Head rail-mounted actuator for window coverings

• US 5,729,103 A
• Filed: 11/16/1995
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harmonic Design Inc. (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Harmonic Design Inc. (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Domel, Douglas R., Walker, Winston G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US08/559,073
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 318/17, 318/254, 318/16, 318/466, 318/138, 318/439, 318/DIG. 17, 318/283, 160/168.1, 160/176.1, 160/14, 160/176.1 P
• US Class Current: 318/283
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/285 Means for actuating a rod (being tilt rod or lift rod)
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/307 Details of tilting bars and their operation
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/364 Operating mechanisms therein
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/368 Driving means other than pulling cords
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• 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

Abstract

A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Claims

1. A window blind with actuator, comprising:

a horizontal window blind having slats, a head rail defining a long dimension, and a rod rotatably mounted in the head rail parallel to the long dimension, the rod defining an open position and a closed position;

a sensor for detecting a light signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

a coupling engaged with the rod for rotating the rod;

a reversible electric direct current (dc) motor operably engaged with the coupling to move the coupling;

a dc battery electrically connected to the motor; and

an electronic circuit electrically connected to the light sensor and the battery for processing the control signal from the light sensor to energize the motor to rotate the rod toward the open and closed positions, thereby rotating the slats.

2. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, further comprising:

a manually manipulable operating switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit for manipulation of the operating switch to generate the control signal.

3. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, further comprising:

a mode switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit, the mode switch having an "off" position, wherein the sensor is not enabled, an "open" position, wherein the motor is energized to open the window covering in response to the control signal, and a "shut" position, wherein the motor is energized to close the window covering in response to the control signal.

4. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, further comprising:

a manually manipulable adjuster defining a periphery extending beyond the head rail, so that a person can turn the adjuster, the adjuster including a metal strip; and

a metal tongue mounted on the rod such that the tongue contacts the metal strip to establish electrical contact therebetween to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor when the rod is characterized by a predetermined angular position.

5. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes:

a limit switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit;

a main reduction gear defining a channel, the rod being coupled to the main reduction gear coaxially with the channel;

at least one rotatable travel limit reduction gear gearedly coupled to the main reduction gear;

an elongated motion translating element coupled to the travel limit reduction gear;

a first manually adjustable travel limiter threadably engaged with the elongated motion translating element for contacting the limit switch when the rod is in the open position to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor; and

a second manually adjustable travel limiter threadably engaged with the elongated motion translating element for contacting the limit switch when the rod is in the position to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor.

6. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the limit switch is a reed switch including:

electrically conductive first and second spring arms; and

an electrically conductive center arm, wherein the first travel limiter contacts the first spring arm to urge the first spring arm against the center arm when the rod is in the open position, and wherein the second travel limiter contacts the second spring arm to urge the second spring arm against the center arm when the rod is in the closed position.

7. The window blind with actuator of claim 6, further comprising a gold-plated contact deposited on at least one of the arms.

8. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises an output amplifier for powering the motor.

9. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises:

a pulse modulation circuit for processing the control signal.

10. The window blind with actuator of claim 9, wherein the pulse modulation circuit causes the motor to be energized only when the control signal is defined by a predetermined electronic characteristic.

11. The window blind with actuator of claim 10, wherein the predetermined electronic characteristic is a pulse rate of between about one thousand five hundred microseconds (1500 μ

s) and about five thousand microseconds (5000 μ

s).

12. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit receives a first control signal to energize the motor to turn in a first direction, a second control signal to stop the motor, a third control signal to cause the motor to turn in a second direction, and a fourth control signal to stop the motor.

13. The window blind with actuator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a daylight sensor, the control signal is a daylight signal, and the electronic circuit comprises:

a daylight control circuit for causing the motor to be energized a predetermined period after the sensor detects the light signal.

14. The window blind with actuator of claim 13, wherein the daylight control circuit includes a daylight disable switch having an "AUTO" position, wherein the daylight control circuit is enabled, and an "OFF" position, wherein the daylight control circuit is disabled.

15. The window blind with actuator of claim 14, wherein the daylight control circuit includes an edge detector for preventing operation of the motor until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after continuous reception of the daylight signal from the daylight sensor.

16. The window blind with actuator of claim 8, wherein the output amplifier includes a plurality of power transistors, and the electronic circuit includes power conservation resistors to maintain the transistors off in the absence of a control signal.

17. A device for moving an operating rod of a window covering having slats to move the slats, comprising:

an actuator including an electric motor and a coupling operably engaged with the motor, wherein the coupling engages the rod to prevent rotational relative motion between the coupling and the rod, a rotor of the motor being connected to the coupling for rotating the rod;

a source of electrical direct current (dc) power; and

a control signal generator for generating a control signal to cause the source of electrical dc power to energize the motor to move the rod and thereby cause the slats to move.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

an electronic circuit for processing the control signal and energizing the motor in response thereto; and

a manually manipulable operating switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit for manipulation of the operating switch to generate the control signal.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the control signal generator includes a sensor for detecting a light signal and generating the control signal in response thereto, and the device further comprises:

a mode switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit, the mode switch having an "off" position, wherein the sensor is not enabled, an "open" position, wherein the motor is energized to open the window covering in response to the control signal, and a "shut" position, wherein the motor is energized to close the window covering in response to the control signal.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

a manually manipulable adjuster defining a periphery extending beyond the head rail, so that a person can turn the adjuster, the adjuster including a metal strip; and

a metal tongue mounted on the rod such that the tongue contacts the metal strip to establish electrical contact therebetween to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor when the rod is characterized by a predetermined angular position.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the coupling includes:

a limit switch electrically connected to the electronic circuit;

a main reduction gear defining a channel, the rod being coupled to the main reduction gear coaxially with the channel;

at least one rotatable travel limit reduction gear gearedly coupled to the main reduction gear;

an elongated motion translating element coupled to the travel limit reduction gear;

a first manually adjustable travel limiter threadably engaged with the elongated motion translating element for contacting the limit switch when the rod is in the open position to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor; and

a second manually adjustable travel limiter threadably engaged with the elongated motion translating element for contacting the limit switch when the rod is in the position to cause the electronic circuit to deenergize the motor.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the limit switch is a reed switch including:

electrically conductive first and second spring arms; and

an electrically conductive center arm, wherein the first travel limiter contacts the first spring arm to urge the first spring arm against the center arm when the rod is in the open position, and wherein the second travel limiter contacts the second spring arm to urge the second spring arm against the center arm when the rod is in the closed position.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a gold-plated contact deposited on at least one of the arms.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit comprises an output amplifier for powering the motor.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the electronic circuit comprises:

a pulse modulation circuit for processing the control signal.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the pulse modulation circuit causes the motor to be energized only when the control signal is defined by a predetermined electronic characteristic.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the predetermined electronic characteristic is a pulse rate of between about one thousand five hundred microseconds (1500 μ

s) and about five thousand microseconds (5000 μ

s).

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the control signal generator generates a first control signal to energize the motor to turn in a first direction, a second control signal to stop the motor, a third control signal to cause the motor to turn in a second direction, and a fourth control signal to stop the motor.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the sensor is a daylight sensor, the control signal is a daylight signal, and the electronic circuit comprises:

a daylight control circuit for causing the motor to be energized a predetermined period after the sensor detects the light signal.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the daylight control circuit includes a daylight disable switch having an "AUTO" position, wherein the daylight control circuit is enabled, and an "OFF" position, wherein the daylight control circuit is disabled.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the daylight control circuit includes an edge detector for preventing operation of the motor until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after continuous reception of the daylight signal from the daylight sensor.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the output amplifier includes a plurality of power transistors, and the electronic circuit includes power conservation resistors to maintain the transistors off in the absence of a control signal.