Automatic vertical blind controller with memory

• US 5,270,629 A
• Filed: 04/30/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casper Shi, Chi-Sheng Hsieh
• Original Assignee: Casper Shih, Chi-Sheng Hsieh
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chi-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/876,402
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 318/256-283, 318/466-468, 318/560-630, 318/16, 160/5, 160/167, 160/166.1, 160/168.1, 160/170, 160/174, 160/176.1, 160/178.2, 160/331, 160/323, 49/139
• US Class Current: 318/600
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/231 the positional error is used to control continuously the servomotor according to its magnitude
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23423 Record playback
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36464 Position, teach, store extreme, full open, closed positions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37285 Load, current taken by motor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45015 Roller blind, shutter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 160/17 Venetian blinds, motor driven

Abstract

An automatic vertical blind controller with memory, particularly an automatic vertical blind controller with automatic/manual operated memory for control of vertical blind turning and movement automatically by referring to a reference data in the memory representing the upper limit degree of turning/movement set up by its user, comprising an outer casing, an inner casing and a control circuit board, in which the control circuit board is composed of an infrared receiver circuit, a manual operated push button control circuit, a single-chip microprocessor, two relay motor driving circuits, a music control circuit, and a power supply; the inner casing is incorporated with two d.c. motors each incorporated with a reducing gear, two light sensor within it, and a chain pulley, a cord pulley, two light detectors, two guide wheels, and two press wheels outside the inner casing except the two light detectors are located below the chain pulley and the cord pulley within the inner casing; the control circuit board is located at the rear part of the inner casing; the outer casing is incorporated with five push buttons and has a size just for fitting of the inner casing.

Claims

1. In an automatic vertical blind controller having a memory and including an inner casing having two sets of DC motors, one of which includes means for driving a chain pulley and the other of which includes means for driving a cord pulley, the improvement comprising:

a control circuit which includes a microprocessor having a memory for storing reference data representing an overload position of said motor;

means for detecting positions of said pulleys based on rotation thereof;

means for activating said pulleys to rotate,

wherein said control circuit includes means for, upon initial activation of said pulleys, operating said motors until overload positions are reached, and storing said overload positions as reference data in said memories, and means for, upon subsequent activation of said pulleys, comparing movement of said pulleys with the stored reference data in order to control the degree of turning, opening and closing of the vertical blind without overload.

2. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for activating the pulleys includes means for selectively receiving signals from an infrared remote control and from a pushbutton provided on an outer casing.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for activating said pulleys includes relays, whereby said motors are operated by opening and closing said relays in response to results of said comparison.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for playing music upon activation of said motors, and for stopping said music when said motors are stopped.