TOUCH HEM BAR CONTROL

• US 20170101820A1
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Slivka, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,644,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6836 sensing obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/885 Braking mechanism activated by the bottom bar
• 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: E06B 9/90 for immobilising the closure member in various chosen positions
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00

Abstract

A motorized shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening is provided that can be actuated by touching its hem bar. The motorized shade, such as a roller shade, comprises a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end, a hem bar assembly connected to the bottom end of the shade material, and a shade drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material. The hem bar assembly comprises a touch sensing module adapted to detect a user touching the hem bar assembly and transmit a control signal in response to the detected touch. The shade drive unit comprises a motor and a motor control module adapted to receive the control signal and control the motor to open or close the shade material. The control signal can be wirelessly transmitted from the touch sensing module to the motor control module.

Claims

1. A motorized shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening, the motorized shade comprising:

a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end;

a hem bar assembly connected to the bottom end of the shade material and comprising a touch sensing module adapted to detect a touch of the hem bar assembly and transmit a control signal in response to the detected touch; and

a shade drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material and comprising a motor and a motor control module adapted to receive the control signal and control the motor to open or close the shade material.

2. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the motorized shade further comprises a roller tube, wherein the shade material wraps about the roller tube, and wherein the shade drive unit rotates the roller tube to raise and lower the shade material.

3. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the hem bar assembly comprises a longitudinal bar electrically coupled to the touch sensing module via a contact, and wherein the touch sensing module detects a touch of the longitudinal bar.

4. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal bar comprises an electrically conductive material.

5. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the contact comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a spring, a wire, a ring, a screw, clips, spring clips, a clamp, teeth, projections, and any combinations thereof.

6. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the touch sensing module is attached to an end of the longitudinal bar.

7. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal bar comprises an opening that receives the touch sensing module therein.

8. The motorized shade of claim 7, wherein the shade material comprises a pocket that receives the longitudinal bar therein.

9. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the shade material comprises a pocket that receives the longitudinal bar and the touch sensing module therein.

10. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal bar is covered by the shade material.

11. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal bar is covered by an outer layer.

12. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the touch sensing module energizes the longitudinal bar thereby turning the surface of the longitudinal bar into a capacitive touch sensor.

13. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the touch sensing module comprise an RC oscillator, wherein the longitudinal bar is electrically connected to the RC oscillator, and wherein the touch sensing module detects a touch of the longitudinal bar when the frequency of the RC oscillator is decreased below a predetermined threshold value.

14. The motorized shade of claim 13, wherein the change in frequency is detected via a controller or a frequency comparator.

15. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein each of the motor control module and the touch sensing module comprises a wireless interface for wirelessly transmitting the control signal.

16. The motorized shade of claim 15, wherein the wireless interface comprises a radio frequency or an infrared transceiver.

17. The motorized shade of claim 15, wherein the motor control module is paired with the touch sensing module.

18. The motorized shade of claim 15, wherein the control signal comprises a unique identification number that identifies the touch sensing module.

19. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing module is adapted to detect:

(i) a first gesture designated to direct the motor control module to open the shade material, and (ii) a second gesture designated to direct the motor control module to close the shade material.

20. The motorized shade of claim 19, wherein the first gesture comprises a single touch and the second gesture comprises a double touch, or vice-versa.

21. The motorized shade of claim 19, wherein the touch sensing module is adapted to transmit a plurality of control signals to a plurality of motor control modules for substantial simultaneous control of a plurality of shades.

22. The motorized shade of claim 21, wherein the touch sensing module is adapted to detect a third gesture, wherein the plurality of control signals identify the detected third gesture, and wherein the third gesture is designated to direct a plurality of motor control modules to substantially simultaneously open or close a plurality of shade materials.

23. The motorized shade of claim 22, wherein the third gesture comprises a triple touch.

24. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the motor control module stops opening or closing the shade material when the motor control module receives a control signal from the touch sensing module while the shade material is in the process of being opened or closed.

25. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing module is adapted to detect a hold and release gesture designated to direct the motor control module to open or close the shade material in response to the detected hold of the hem bar assembly, and to stop opening or closing the shade material in response to the detected release of the hem bar assembly.

26. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing module is adapted to detect a tap-hold and release gesture designated to direct the motor control module to open or close the shade material in response to the detected tap and hold of the hem bar assembly, and to stop opening or closing the shade material in response to the detected release of the hem bar assembly.

27. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing module is further adapted to detect that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle and transmit a hit signal, wherein the hit signal is designated to direct the motor control module to stop closing the shade material.

28. The motorized shade of claim 27, wherein subsequently to stopping closing the shade material, the motor control module opens the shade material by a predetermined amount.

29. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the motor control module is further adapted to (i) detect that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle when the motor control module receives a hold signal during a closing of the shade material, (ii) stop closing the shade material, (iii) open the shade material, and (iv) stop opening the shade material upon receiving a release signal from the touch sensing module.

30. The motorized shade of claim 1, wherein the motor control module comprises a controller and a memory including a plurality of objects defining a plurality of operating commands based on a state of the motorized shade, wherein upon receipt of the control signal, the controller determines the state of the motorized shade and queries the memory to determine a respective operating command.

31. The motorized shade of claim 30, wherein the plurality of objects define the following operating commands:

when the controller receives the control signal while the shade material is in a fully opened position, the controller controls the motor to close the shade material;

when the controller receives the control touch signal while shade material is in a fully closed position, the controller controls the motor to open the shade material;

when the controller receives the control signal while the shade material is in the process of being opened or closed, the controller controls the motor to stop opening or closing the shade material.

32. The motorized shade of claim 31, wherein the plurality of objects further define the following operating commands:

when the controller receives a subsequent control signal within a predetermined period of time after the shade material has stopped opening and the shade material is partially opened, the controller controls the motor to close the shade material; and

when the controller receives a subsequent control signal within a predetermined period of time after the shade material has stopped closing and the shade material is partially closed, the controller controls the motor to open the shade material.

46. The motorized shade of claim 3, wherein the contact comprises biasing members, spacers, and any combinations thereof.

33. A motorized shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening, the motorized shade comprising:

a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end;

a hem bar assembly connected to the bottom end of the shade material and comprising a touch sensing module adapted to detect a touch of the hem bar assembly and transmit a control signal in response to the detected touch; and

a shade drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material and comprising a motor and a motor control module adapted to (i) detect that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle upon receiving the control signal during a closing of the shade material, and (ii) control the motor to stop closing the shade material.

34. The motorized shade of claim 33, wherein subsequently to stopping closing the shade material, the motor control module opens the shade material by a predetermined amount.

35. The motorized shade of claim 33, wherein the motor control module is adapted to (i) detect that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle when the motor control module receives a hold signal during a closing of the shade material, (ii) stop closing the shade material, (iii) open the shade material, and (iv) stop opening the shade material upon receiving a release signal from the touch sensing module.

36. A roller shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening, the roller shade comprising:

a roller tube;

a shade material comprising a bottom end and a top end connected to the roller tube;

a hem bar assembly connected to the bottom end of the shade material and comprising a longitudinal bar and a touch sensing module adapted to detect a touch of the longitudinal bar and wirelessly transmit a control signal in response to the detected touch; and

a shade drive unit operably connected to the roller tube and comprising a motor and a motor control module adapt to wirelessly receive the control signal and control the motor to rotate the roller tube to raise or lower the shade material.

37. A method of controlling a motorized shade including (i) a shade material, (ii) a shade drive unit connected to a top end of the shade material and having a motor and a motor control module, and (iii) a hem bar assembly connected to a bottom end of the shade material and having a touch sensing module, the method comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a touch of the hem bar assembly;

transmitting, by the touch sensing module, a control signal in response to the detected touch;

receiving, by the motor control module, the control signal; and

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to open or close the shade material.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a first gesture;

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to open the shade material in response to receiving a control signal comprising the first gesture;

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a second gesture; and

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to close the shade material in response to receiving a control signal comprising the second gesture.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first gesture comprises a single touch and the second gesture comprises a double touch, or vice-versa.

40. The method claim 38 further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a third gesture;

transmitting, by the touch sensing module, a plurality of control signals to a plurality of motor control modules; and

substantially simultaneously controlling, by the plurality of motor control modules, a plurality of shades in response to receiving the plurality of control signals comprising the third gesture.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the third gesture comprises a triple touch.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a hold of the hem bar assembly;

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to open or close the shade material in response to the detected hold;

detecting, by the touch sensing module, a release of the hold of the hem bar assembly;

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to stop opening or closing the shade material in response to the detected release.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

detecting, by the motor control module, that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle when the motor control module receives a control signal during a closing of the shade material; and

controlling, by the motor control module, the motor to stop closing the shade material.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

subsequently, controlling, by the motor control module, to open the shade material by a predetermined amount.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

detecting, by the motor control module, that the hem bar assembly has hit or about to hit an obstacle when the motor control module receives a hold signal during a closing of the shade material; and

controlling, by the motor control module, to stop closing the shade material, to open the shade material, and to stop opening the shade material upon receiving a release signal from the touch sensing module.