Low power rf control system

• US 7,783,277 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Saar, David A., Walker, Winston Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/807,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,344 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.4, 455352-354, 318/16, 340 732- 736
• US Class Current: 455/343.2
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/029 reducing the clock frequency of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A low power rf control system includes a controller that operates at a low clock speed when an associated rf receiver is deenergized and a high clock speed when the controller energizes the receiver. The receiver can be on for a short period, off for a short period if no preamble pulses from a remote control device are received, on for a short period, and then off for a longer period until the next cycle. The receiver remains on to process a command signal when a preamble signal is detected. A DC-DC down converter can be used as a power supply for the receiver, and a SAW resonant circuit can be used as an IF oscillator for the receiver. An LC filter can be associated with the receiver for filtering the IF signal.

Claims

1. A control system for operating a component at least in part in response to a signal from a remote control device manipulable by a user, the system comprising:

at least one receiver configured for processing a signal when being activated;

at least one controller causing the receiver to be activated periodically during a wake-up event comprising at least an activation period (B, B′

, B″

) and deactivated if no signal is detected during the wake-up event;

wherein the signal includes at least one preamble pulse (P) during a pre-synchronization cycle followed by at least a data command signal, and

wherein the receiver is activated according to a series of wake-up events in such a way that, during the whole duration of a pre-synchronization cycle, the receiver is at least activated during two activation periods and at most two activation periods occur during one and a same preamble pulse.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal; and

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver, the controller causing the receiver to be energized according to an energization paradigm selected from the group consisting of;

energizing for a first energized period, then deenergizing for a short period if no preamble pulse is detected, then energizing for a second energized period, and then deenergizing, at least if no preamble pulse is detected, for period longer than the short period, prior to reenergizing the receiver; and

energizing for a first time period and then energizing for a second time period after a rest period the length of which ensures detection, in at least one of the time periods, of a preamble pulse if a preamble has been generated;

wherein when the receiver is energized during an off period of an existing preamble, the receiver can be energized a second time after a rest period, the length of which ensures detection in at least one of the time periods of a preamble pulse,

wherein when the controller causes the receiver to be energized, an activation duration of the receiver is substantially shorter than the period of a preamble pulse.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each preamble pulse has a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal includes at least six preamble pulses.

5. The system of claim 2, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and controller.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller operates at a low clock frequency during at least most of the long period and at a high clock frequency at least when the receiver is energized.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between the low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after the long period.

8. The system of claim 2, comprising at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF).

9. The system of claim 8, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

10. The system of claim 2, comprising at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

13. The system of claim 2;

comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller causes the receiver to be energized according to the following paradigm:

energizing for a first energized period, then deenergizing for a short period if no preamble signal is detected, then energizing for a second energized period, and then deenergizing, at least if no preamble signal is detected, for period longer than the short period, prior to reenergizing the receiver.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller causes the receiver to be energized according to the following paradigm:

energizing for a first time period and then energizing for a second time period after a staggered rest period the length of which equals an integer multiple of one-half of a pulse period plus or minus a time delta, the time delta being less than one-half the pulse period.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller causes the receiver to be energized according to the following paradigm:

energizing the receiver once sometime within a period of a relatively long preamble pulse.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the activation duration is approximately 80 microseconds when the period of the preamble pulse is approximately 5000 microseconds.

19. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal; and

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver,

wherein the controller operates at a low clock frequency during at least most of a receiver sleep period and at a high clock frequency at least when the receiver is energized.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between the low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after the receiver sleep period.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the signal includes a preamble including plural pulses, each having a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the preamble includes at least six pulses.

23. The system of claim 19, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and controller.

24. The system of claim 19, comprising at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF).

25. The system of claim 24, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

26. The system of claim 19, comprising at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver.

27. The system of claim 26, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

29. The system of claim 19, comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

31. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal;

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver; and

the system further comprises at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF),

wherein when the controller causes the receiver to be energized, wherein when the receiver is energized during an off period of an existing preamble, the receiver can be energized a second time after a rest period, the length of which ensures detection in at least one of the time periods of a preamble pulse, and an activation duration of the receiver is substantially shorter than the period of a preamble pulse.

32. The system of claim 31, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the signal includes a preamble including plural pulses, each having a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the preamble includes at least six pulses.

35. The system of claim 31, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and controller.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the controller operates at a low clock frequency during at least most of a long receiver sleep period and at a high clock frequency at least when the receiver is energized.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between the low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after the long receiver sleep period.

38. The system of claim 31, comprising at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver.

39. The system of claim 38, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

41. The system of claim 31, comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

42. The system of claim 31, wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

43. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal;

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver; and

the system further comprises at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver, wherein the preamble pulse is not a data command signal, wherein when the controller causes the receiver to be energized, wherein when the receiver is energized during an off period of an existing preamble, the receiver can be energized a second time after a rest period, the length of which ensures detection in at least one of the time periods of a preamble pulse, and an activation duration of the receiver is substantially shorter than the period of a preamble pulse.

44. The system of claim 43, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the signal includes a preamble including plural pulses, each having a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the preamble includes at least six pulses.

47. The system of claim 43, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and the controller.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the controller operates at a low clock frequency during at least most of a long sleep period and at a high clock frequency at least when the receiver is energized.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between the low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after the long period.

50. The system of claim 43, comprising at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF).

51. The system of claim 50, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

52. The system of claim 43, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

53. The system of claim 43, comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

54. The system of claim 43, wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

55. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal;

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver; and

the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between a battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver,

wherein when the controller causes the receiver to be energized, wherein when the receiver is energized during an off period of an existing preamble, the receiver can be energized a second time after a rest period, the length of which ensures detection in at least one of the time periods of a preamble pulse, and an activation duration of the receiver is substantially shorter than the period of a preamble pulse.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the signal includes a preamble including plural pulses, each having a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the preamble includes at least six pulses.

58. The system of claim 57, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and the controller.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the controller operates at a low clock frequency during at least most of a long period and at a high clock frequency at least when the receiver is energized.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between the low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after the long period.

61. The system of claim 55, comprising at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF).

62. The system of claim 61, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

63. The system of claim 55, comprising at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver.

64. The system of claim 63, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

66. The system of claim 55, comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

67. The system of claim 55, wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

68. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one receiver is associated with the component and configured for processing the signal; and

the at least one controller is associated with the component and controlling the receiver,

wherein the controller adaptively adjusts a noise threshold above which a carrier must be detected to indicate the presence of a control signal.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the controller operates at an intermediate frequency between low and high frequencies just prior to energizing the receiver after a receiver sleep period.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the signal includes a preamble including plural pulses, each having a duty cycle in excess of fifty percent (50%).

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the preamble includes at least six pulses.

72. The system of claim 68, comprising a fast filter and a slow filter each electrically interposed between the receiver and controller.

73. The system of claim 68, comprising at least one bypass capacitor electrically connected to the receiver and to ground, the bypass capacitor having a capacitance of below five hundred picoFarads (500 pF).

74. The system of claim 73, comprising plural bypass capacitors, at least one having a capacitance not substantially more than one hundred picoFarads (100 pF).

75. The system of claim 68, comprising at least one surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator circuit establishing an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator for the receiver.

76. The system of claim 75, comprising an LC filter associated with the receiver for filtering an IF signal.

77. The system of claim 68, wherein the component is powered by at least one battery, and the system further comprises a DC-DC down converter electrically interposed between the battery and receiver to provide a voltage to the receiver.

78. The system of claim 68, comprising the component and a motor coupled to an operator of a component and controlled by the controller, the component being selected from the group of components consisting of window coverings, awnings, skylight covers, and screens.

79. The control system of claim 1, wherein the time period between the end of a first wake-up event and the beginning of a subsequent wake-up event is superior to 70% of the whole duration of the pre-synchronization cycle.