SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MOVABLE PARTITION

• US 20130220558A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Won-Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Won-Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Knight, Tracy M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,910,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/206
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/142 Partition walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A remote control system for use with a movable partition comprises a motor configured to drive movement of a movable partition of a movable partition system, a processor coupled with the motor to generate an actuation signal to control the motor, and a remote control switch coupled with the motor and configured to transmit a trigger signal to the processor in response to receiving an activation signal from a remote control key. The processor is configured to control the motor to drive the movable partition to a predetermined position along a track in response to the trigger signal. A method of driving a movable partition comprises receiving an activation signal from a remote control key, and driving the movable partition to an intermediate position along a track to provide access to user interface elements of the movable partition in response to receiving the activation signal.

Claims

1. A remote control system for use with a movable partition, comprising:

a motor configured to drive movement of a movable partition of a movable partition system;

a processor coupled with the motor to generate an actuation signal to control the motor; and

a remote control switch coupled with the motor and configured to transmit a trigger signal to the processor in response to receiving an activation signal from a remote control key, wherein the processor is configured to control the motor to drive the movable partition to a predetermined position along a track in response to the trigger signal.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is a magnetic field produced by the remote control key, and the remote control switch includes a reed switch.

3. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the remote control key includes a transmitter, and the remote control switch includes a receiver configured for communication of the activation signal therebetween.

4. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the movable partition comprises user interface elements that are accessible to a user when the movable partition is at the predetermined position that is between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position of the movable partition.

5. The remote control system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to control the motor to drive the movable partition to another predetermined position along the track in response to detection of the trigger signal when the movable partition is in the predetermined position, wherein the another predetermined position is another location to return the user interface elements of the movable partition to a restricted access position.

6. A movable partition system, comprising:

a movable partition coupled to a track extending between a first wall and a second wall;

a motor configured to drive movement of the movable partition;

a remote control system operably coupled with the motor, and configured to send an actuation signal to the motor in response to detection of an activation signal from a remote control key, wherein the remote control system is configured to control the motor to drive the movable partition to an intermediate position along the track.

7. The movable partition system of claim 6, wherein the remote control system includes a remote control switch coupled in parallel with another user-controlled switch such that either the remote control switch or the user-controlled switch controls the motor.

8. The movable partition system of claim 7, wherein the movable partition includes user interface elements that are configured to enable an operator to control operation of the movable partition through the user-controlled switch.

9. The movable partition system of claim 8, wherein the user interface elements are positioned on the movable partition such that the operator does not have access to the user interface elements when the movable partition is in at least one of a substantially fully extended position and a substantially fully retracted position.

10. The movable partition system of claim 9, wherein the movable partition is configured to collapse at least partially within a pocket formed in the first wall when the movable partition is in the substantially fully retracted position.

11. The movable partition system of claim 9, wherein the user interface elements are accessible in the intermediate position along the track.

12. The movable partition system of claim 11, wherein the remote control system includes an encoder and a processor that monitor a position of the movable partition along the track, and wherein the intermediate position is a predetermined position stored in memory and accessible by the processor.

13. The movable partition system of claim 9, wherein the user interface elements and the motor are carried by a partial enclosure of a lead drive box coupled to a leading end of the movable partition system.

14. The movable partition system of claim 13, wherein the remote control switch is coupled to an internal wall of the lead drive box, wherein the remote control switch is configured to detect the activation signal.

15. The movable partition system of claim 14, wherein the activation signal from the remote control key is a magnetic field produced by the remote control key.

16. The movable partition system of claim 14, wherein the activation signal from the remote control key is communicated over a wireless communication signal to the remote control switch.

17. A method of driving a movable partition, the method comprising:

receiving a wireless activation signal from a remote control key; and

driving a movable partition to an intermediate position along a track to provide access to user interface elements of the movable partition in response to receiving the wireless activation signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the wireless activation signal from the remote control key includes detecting a magnetic field as the wireless activation signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein driving the movable partition to an intermediate position along the track includes driving the movable partition from a position that maintains the user interface elements in restricted access to a predetermined position that is sufficient to provide an operator with access to the user interface elements.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising driving the movable partition to another position along the track in response to the operator selecting an operation through the user interface elements.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein driving the movable partition to another position along the track includes at least one of fully extending and fully retracting the movable partition along the track.

22. A method of installing a movable partition system, the method comprising:

suspending a movable partition comprising at least one sheet of interconnected panels connected to a lead post at an end of the movable partition from a track extending between a first wall and a second wall;

coupling a motor with the movable partition to drive movement of the movable partition; and

coupling a remote control system with the motor, the remote control system configured to send an actuation signal to the motor in response to detection of an activation signal from a remote control key, wherein the remote control system is configured to control the motor to drive the movable partition to an intermediate position along the track.