Intelligent Shading Objects

• US 20160338457A1
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShadeCraft, LLC
• Original Assignee: ShadeCraft, LLC
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Granted Patent: US 10,327,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 17/00 Tiltable umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/02 Inflatable umbrellas; Umbrellas without ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/04 with telescopic sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/08 with collapsible sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2017/005 with additional rotation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2019/002 Umbrellas stored inside the stick when closed, e.g. collapsible into the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2019/026 Umbrellas without ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0012 Ground supported umbrellas or sunshades on a single post, e.g. resting in or on a surface there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0031 Cantilever umbrellas or sunshades with a support arm
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0093 Sunshades or weather protections of other than umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/003 Accessories not covered by groups A45B25/24 - A45B25/30
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/143 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/16 Automatic openers, e.g. frames with spring mechanisms A45B25/143 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/165 with fluid or electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/18 Covers detachable A45B15/00; Means for fastening same
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 : Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 : for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 : specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7861 : Solar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

An intelligent shading object, comprises a plurality of shading elements, a shading element deployment mechanism, a support structure, and a base unit. A shading element deployment mechanism deploys a plurality of shading elements independently of each other. A support structure is coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism. A base unit is coupled to the support structure to provide stability to the support structure, the shading element deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.

Claims

1. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

a central support system, the central support system comprising;

a first motor integrated within the central support system;

a storage area to house a plurality of shading elements;

an expansion and retraction unit to drive displacement of the plurality of shading elements;

a base unit in contact with a floor surface and coupled to the central support system, the base unit comprising

a second motor,

a power supply and a

a rotational apparatus to rotate the central support system in response to signals from the motor,

wherein a controller integrated into the central support system transmits instructions to the first motor to communicate signals to the expansion and retraction unit to displace one or more of the shading elements into an open position.

2. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of shading elements may be independently expanded and/or retracted by the signals transmitted by the first motor.

3. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of shading elements have different widths and/or lengths.

4. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of shading elements has a different geometric shape as compared to a remainder of the shading elements.

5. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, the central support system further comprising a light sensor to identify presence and intensity of solar irradiance, the light sensor being coupled to a controller in the base unit, wherein the controller transmits signals to a motor in the base unit to send signals to the rotation unit to rotate the base and the central support system to follow the direction of solar irradiance.

6. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, the central support system further including a wireless receiver to receive audio signals and transmit the audio signals to the speaker.

7. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of shading elements has photo cells disposed on a surface of the shading element.

8. The intelligent shading object of claim 7, wherein the photo cells transform solar irradiance into electrical energy, which is stored in the power storage element and is utilize to provide power to at least one of a controller, a first motor, or a second motor.

9. The intelligent shading object of claim 7, the base unit further comprises a plurality of weight compartments, wherein at least one weight may be placed into one of the plurality of weight compartments according to an embodiment of the invention.

10. The intelligent shading object of claim 7, the central support system further including a lighting element, the lighting element to project light onto a surface of at least one of the shading elements.

11. The intelligent shading object of claim 10, the lighting element to further project video or pictures onto a surface of at least one of the shading elements.

23. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, further comprising a wind sensor capturing a wind speed measurement and if the wind speed measurement is greater than a threshold, the controller transmitting instructions to the first motor to retract the one or more shading elements.

24. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor and a cooling system, the temperature sensor capturing a temperature measurement around the intelligent shading object and if the temperature measurement is greater than a threshold, the controller transmitting instructions to the cooling system to initiate activation of the cooling system.

25. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor and a cooling system, the humidity sensor capturing a humidity measurement around the intelligent shading object and if the humidity measurement is greater than a threshold, the controller transmitting instructions to the cooling system to initiate activation of the cooling system.

26. The intelligent shading object of claim 7, the photo cells transforming solar irradiance into electrical power, the electrical power being provided to one of a system power supply and/or a rechargeable battery, the one of the system power supply and/or the rechargeable battery providing power to at least one of the controller, the first motor, or the second motor.

27. The intelligent shading object of claim 7, further comprising a power monitor, the power monitor generating a measurements of how much electrical power is available from the rechargeable battery.

28. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, further comprising a GNSS transceiver, the GNSS transceiver to receive GPS signals from GPS satellites and gather positioning information for the intelligent shading object.

12. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

a support structure, the plurality of shading elements coupled to the support structure;

a speaker; and

a bluetooth transceiver connected to the support structure and coupled to the speaker, the Bluetooth transceiver to receive audio signals from an audio source and to transmit the audio signals to a speaker, wherein the speaker produces sound from the received audio signals.

13. The intelligent shading object of claim 12, wherein the Bluetooth transceiver is only activated when the plurality of shading elements are deployed in an open position.

14. The intelligent shading object of claim 12, wherein the Bluetooth transceiver receive audio signals from a paired Bluetooth device, where the audio signals represent verbal commands from a user.

15. A method of positioning a shading element in a shading object comprising:

moving a sun sensor about an azimuth axis;

generating a plurality of sun sensor values for a plurality of locations about the azimuth axis;

capturing a peak intensity sun sensor value and corresponding peak intensity location;

moving the shading element to the peak intensity location about the azimuth axis.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

moving a sun sensor about an elevation axis;

generating a plurality of sun sensor values for a plurality of locations about the elevation axis;

capturing a peak intensity value and corresponding peak intensity location about the elevation axis; and

moving the shading element to the peak intensity location about the elevation axis.

17. A method of positioning a shading element in a shading object comprising:

capturing, utilizing a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a latitude and longitude of the shading object;

calculating an azimuth angle and an elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the captured latitude and/or the captured longitude readings; and

moving the shading element to the calculated azimuth angle and the calculated elevation angle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

capturing, utilizing the GPS receiver, a reference time, a local time, and/or a number of days since start of a year of the shading object;

calculating the azimuth angle and the elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the captured reference time, the captured local time, and/or the number of days since start of the year; and

moving the shading element to the calculated azimuth angle and the calculated elevation angle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

capturing using a digital compass, a true North reading and determining an direction/orientation reading of the shading object;

calculating an updated azimuth angle and an updated elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the determined direction/orientation reading; and

moving the shading element to the calculated updated azimuth angle and the calculated updated elevation angle.

20. A method of positioning a shading element in a shading object, comprising:

receiving a digital image of an individual;

comparing the received digital image to reference digital images stored in memory of a controller of the shading object;

matching the received digital image to a reference digital image;

retrieving personal settings for a shading object; and

utilizing the retrieved personal settings for the shading object and transmitting signals to components of the shading object and applying the personal settings to associated components of the shading object.

21. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

a shading element deployment mechanism to deploy the plurality of shading elements independently;

a support structure coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism; and

a base unit coupled to the support structure to provide stability to the support structure, the shading element deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.

22. An intelligent shading object comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

at least one support structure elements coupled to the plurality of shading elements;

a support structure deployment mechanism to deploy and/or retract the at least one support structure and

a base unit coupled to the support structure deployment mechanism to provide stability to the at least one support structure elements, the support structure deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.