Shading Control Network Using a Control Network
First Claim
1. A shade control network (716) comprising:
- one or more motorized roller shades (106);
one or more electronic drive units (408) configured to operate said one or more motorized roller shade; and
an intelligent hub (710) configured to supply electrical power and data communications to said one or more electronic drive units, whereina first one of said electronic drive units is configured to receive data communications and electrical power from said intelligent hub, and further whereinsaid first one of said one or more electronic drive units being in data communication with said second electronic drive units and providing electrical power to said second electronic drive units, and further whereineach of said electronic drive units comprisesan elongated motor (502) and a battery (506), and further whereinsaid battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor, and further whereinsaid intelligent hub provides a re-charging current to said battery in each of said one or more electronic drive units via a power-over-Ethernet cable (406).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system (700) is disclosed that includes a room controller (704) transmitting signals to both a shade control network (716) and a light control network (718), directing that motorized roller shades (106) and dimmable lights (714) be set to desired intensity levels. The control system further includes an intelligent hub (710) that provides a trickle-charge re-charge current via power-over-Ethernet cables to batteries associated with each of the motorized roller shades for re-charging the batteries, thereby eliminating power supplies being installed within walls. The intelligent hub provides for communication with the room controller based on streaming protocol and with the shade control network based on event-based protocol. A computer (414) running user interface software may be connected to the system to facilitate programing.
29 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A shade control network (716) comprising:
-
one or more motorized roller shades (106); one or more electronic drive units (408) configured to operate said one or more motorized roller shade; and an intelligent hub (710) configured to supply electrical power and data communications to said one or more electronic drive units, wherein a first one of said electronic drive units is configured to receive data communications and electrical power from said intelligent hub, and further wherein said first one of said one or more electronic drive units being in data communication with said second electronic drive units and providing electrical power to said second electronic drive units, and further wherein each of said electronic drive units comprises an elongated motor (502) and a battery (506), and further wherein said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor, and further wherein said intelligent hub provides a re-charging current to said battery in each of said one or more electronic drive units via a power-over-Ethernet cable (406). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A shade control network (814) comprising:
-
one or more motorized roller shades (106); a transformer configured to provide electrical power to a first one of said one or more motorized roller shades via a power cable; one or more electronic drive units (804) configured to operate said one or more motorized roller shades; and an intelligent hub (710) configured to supply data communications wirelessly to said one or more electronic drive units via a mesh network, wherein said first one of said one or more electronic drive units being in data communication with said second electronic drive units and providing electrical power to said second electronic drive units, and further wherein each of said electronic drive units comprises an elongated motor (502) and a battery (506), and further wherein said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A control system (700) comprising:
-
at least one shade control network (716) that includes at least one intelligent hub (710), motorized roller shade (106), and a respective electronic data unit (408) for each of the at least one motorized roller shades; and a room controller (704) configured to control the at least one shade control network, wherein the room controller is further configured to transmit control signals and database information to each of the at least one motorized roller shades of each at least one shade control networks and to receive feedback information therefrom, and wherein said intelligent hub is connected between said room controller and said shade control network and is configured to facilitate transmission of signals, database information and a trickle-charge re-charging current there between, and still further wherein, said intelligent hub further includes an information buffer for holding the feedback information from the at least one or more shade control networks for independent retrieval by said room controller. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A control system (800) comprising:
-
at least one shade control network (814) that includes at least one transformer, intelligent hub (710), motorized roller shade (106), mesh network controller (602), and a respective electronic data unit (408) for each of the at least one motorized roller shades; and a room controller (704) configured to control the at least one shade control network, wherein the room controller is further configured to transmit control signals and database information to each of the at least one motorized roller shades of each at least one shade control networks and to receive feedback information therefrom wirelessly via said mesh network controller, and wherein said intelligent hub is connected between said room controller and said shade control network and is configured to facilitate transmission of signals, database information, and to manage a trickle-charge re-charging current there-between, and still further wherein, said intelligent hub further includes an information buffer for holding the feedback information from the at least one or more shade control networks for independent retrieval by said room controller. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification