Apparatus for controlling window blinds and awnings

• US 5,038,087 A
• Filed: 01/17/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ambient Energy Design
• Original Assignee: Ambient Energy Design
• Inventors: Hakanson, Sven A. S., Archer, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/466,563
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/434, 318/466, 318/467, 318/468, 318/469
• US Class Current: 318/469
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/06 comprising a roller-blind with means for holding the end away from a building
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6836 sensing obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6845 sensing position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/88 for limiting unrolling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 160/17 Venetian blinds, motor driven

Abstract

In an apparatus for controlling a D.C. motor used in the lifting and lowering operation of a window blind or an awning, pulses induced as a result of rotation of the motor rotor are used for delivering signals to a signal receiving means. The signal receiving means includes a counter for counting the induced pulses, a memory that stores the number of pulses required for the blind or awning to move between its end positions, and a comparator circuit for generating a control signal when the operating current to the motor exceeds a predetermined value, and delivers signals to stop the motor at the end positions of the blind or awning.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a motor used in the lifting and lowering of a window blind or the winding in and out of an awning, said motor being a D.C. motor having a rotor and a stator and being operative to induce pulses in cables connected to said motor due to rotation of said rotor through a magnetic field generated by said stator, said apparatus including signal receiving means connected to said cables for receiving said induced pulses, said signal receiving means including an electrical counter connected to said cables via a ground circuit which includes a resistance and a condenser, said counter being stepped by signals derived form said induced pluses, said signal receiving means further including a memory which stores a number corresponding to the number of pulses that are required for the blind or awning to move between its end positions, said signal receiving means being operative to produce an output signal when the count in said counter and the number stored in said memory indicate that the blind or awning has reached one of its end positions, means responsive to said output signal form said signal receiving means for stopping the motor at said end position of the blind or awning, means connected to said ground circuit for providing a control signal when the operating current to said motor increases over a predetermined value as a result of a decrease in the speed of said motor or a stoppage of said motor due to the blind or awning having reached one of its end positions, and means coupling said control signal to said counter to reset said counter to zero.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for providing said control signal comprises comparator means connected to said resistance in said ground circuit for comparing a voltage generated across said resistance with a reference voltage value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for providing said control signal comprises comparator means for comparing the operating current to said motor with a reference current value.