Method for Operating a Motorized Roller Shade

• US 20110203754A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
• Inventors: Asbury, Harry Edward, Brunk, Darrin W., Bruckner, Benjamin Anthony, Rodriguez, Yan, Mullet, Willis Jay, Hand, Richard Scott, Wysoczynski, Christopher Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,368,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/405
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6845 sensing position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6872 using counters to determine shutter position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6881 Mechanical counters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/42 Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller, the method comprising:

detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor;

determining a displacement associated with the manual movement; and

if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manual movement is a downward movement.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum displacement is about 2 inches.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining the displacement includes measuring a rotation of the shade tube using a magnetic, an optical or a mechanical encoder.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the DC gear motor includes a housing fixed to the shade tube, an output shaft fixed to a support bracket and a motor shaft, and the encoder measures the rotation of the motor shaft.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the maximum displacement is associated with a predetermined number of encoder pulses.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes energizing the DC gear motor, measuring the rotation of the motor shaft using the encoder, and de-energizing the DC gear motor.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the different position is associated with a number of encoder pulses.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the encoder is a magnetic encoder and said measuring the rotation includes counting the number of pulses generated by a multi-pole magnet attached to the motor shaft.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said moving the shade is based on the current position of the shade.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the different position is one of a plurality of positions including 25% open, 50% open, 75% open and 100% open.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes moving the shade to the predetermined position directly above the current position.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising if the displacement is greater than the maximum displacement, assigning the current position of the shade to one of a plurality of positions including 0% open, 25% open, 50% open and 75% open.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command from a remote control; and

moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motorized roller shade includes a wireless receiver and the method further comprises:

receiving a message, including a transmitter identifier and a command, from a wireless transmitter; and

moving the shade to a predetermined position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each command is associated with one of a plurality of positions including 0% open, 25% open, 50% open, 75% open and 100% open.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command, while the shade is moving in an upward direction; and

stopping the movement of the shade if the position associated with the different command is 0% open.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command, while the shade is moving in a downward direction; and

stopping the movement of the shade if the position associated with the different command is 100% open.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the command is associated with the 25% open, 50% open or 75% open position and the method further comprises:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command associated with the 25% open, 50% open or 75% open position, while the shade is moving; and

moving the shade to the predetermined position associated with the different command.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of positions is associated with a different number of magnetic, optical or mechanical encoder pulses.

28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after the shade has been moved to the different position, applying a brake.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

after the manual movement of the shade is detected, releasing the brake.

30. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

after the DC gear motor is de-energized, connecting the positive terminal of the DC gear motor and the negative terminal of the DC gear motor together.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

after the manual movement of the shade is detected, disconnecting the positive terminal of the DC gear motor from the negative terminal of the DC gear motor.

32. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

after the shade has been moved to the position associated with the command, applying a brake.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

prior to moving the shade to the position associated with the command, releasing the brake.

21. A method for manually controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor including a housing fixed to the shade tube, an output shaft fixed to a support bracket and a motor shaft, an encoder and a microcontroller, the method comprising:

sensing a rotation of the shade tube, associated with a manual movement, by measuring the rotation of the motor shaft using the encoder; and

if the rotation of the motor shaft is less than a predetermined number of encoder pulses, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor, measuring the rotation of the motor shaft using the encoder, and de-energizing the motor when the rotation of the motor shaft equals a number of encoder pulses associated with the different position.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of positions includes 25% open, 50% open and 75% open, wherein the command is associated with the 25% open, 50% open or 75% open position, and the method further comprises:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command associated with the 25% open, 50% open or 75% open position, while the shade is moving; and

moving the shade to the position associated with the different command.

22. A method for remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor including a housing fixed to the shade tube, an output shaft fixed to a support bracket and a motor shaft, an encoder, a wireless receiver and a microcontroller, the method comprising:

receiving a message, including a transmitter identifier and a command, from a wireless transmitter, each command associated with one of a plurality of positions at least including open and closed; and

moving the shade to the position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor, measuring the rotation of the motor shaft using the encoder, and de-energizing the motor when the measured rotation of the motor shaft equals a number of encoder pulses associated with the position.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command, while the shade is moving in an upward direction; and

stopping the movement of the shade if the position associated with the different command is closed.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a second message from the transmitter, including a transmitter identifier and a different command, while the shade is moving in a downward direction; and

stopping the movement of the shade if the position associated with the different command is open.

26. A method for operating a motorized roller shade including a DC gear motor disposed therein, the method comprising:

supplying a battery voltage to the DC gear motor that is less than the DC gear motor rated voltage; and

drawing less current than the DC gear motor rated current to enhance system efficiency and sound levels.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the battery is an alkaline, zinc or lead acid battery.