Actuator control method

• US 7,852,765 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Fournet, Michel, Pellarin, Florent, Neuman, Serge
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi; Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US11/360,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-338, 370464-509, 370230-238, 375/354, 375/362, 455/420, 455/5.1, 455/11.1, 455/352, 455/418, 455/419, 455/422.1, 340/5.64, 340/5.7, 340/5.72, 340/825.63
• US Class Current: 370/232
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A synchronized control method for actuators driving a moving device includes the sending of a signal repeating a frame including the code of the control to be executed, inserting into the frame sent a time information item representative of the control generation duration, extracting the time information item and computing at least one of the application start and the application end instant of control, and the reception of the signal for application of the control to the actuator as long as the generation of the control signal lasts.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing actuator control, comprising the generation of a control to be executed, the sending of a wireless signal repeating a command frame including a code of the control to be executed and the reception of this signal, which comprises:

a step for inserting into the sent command frame a time information item representative of the control generation duration between a generation start instant and a generation end instant, the information item changing from a first sent command frame to a second sent command frame,

a step for extracting this time information item,

a step for computing at least one of an application start instant and an application end instant of the control, using the time information item;

wherein the method is used for remotely controlling the activation of an actuator or several actuators as long as the generation of the control lasts, said actuators driving at least one of;

a moving device of closure (door, gate or window) in a building,

a solar protection,

a multimedia projection screen,

a ventilation hatch.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time information item is a frame number.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time information item is a number representative of the control generation duration.

4. A method of synchronizing actuator control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step for computing the at least one of application start instant and application end instant of a control using the time information item includes a step for computing a theoretical control generation start instant and wherein the control application start instant is determined by applying a predetermined time offset to the theoretical control generation instant.

5. The method of synchronizing actuator control as in claim 4, wherein the step for inserting into the frame sent a time information item representative of the control generation duration also includes the insertion of a control generation end indication and wherein the step for computing at least one of the application start instant and application end instant of a control using the time information item comprises:

a step for activating the actuator according to the control received and for measuring the activation duration,

a step for receiving a control generation end indication,

a step for extracting data for determining the control generation duration until the end of control generation (TCT, CAT),

a step for comparing the control generation duration up to the end of the control generation with the activation duration.

6. The method of synchronizing actuator control as in claim 5, wherein, depending on the result of the comparison step:

a step for extending the control application duration is undertaken when the activation duration is less than the control generation duration, or

a correction step terminates application of the current control and provokes a temporary application of a reverse effect control.

7. The method of synchronizing actuator control as in claim 6, wherein the duration of the extension step or the duration of the correction step is equal to the absolute difference of the quantities compared in the comparison step.

8. A method of programming for a unit for programming actuators driving a moving device of a building of closure (door, gate or window), solar protection, multimedia projection screen, or ventilation flap type, which includes the steps of the method of claim 1, and wherein the time information item contained in the initial frame presents a particular value.

9. The programming method as claimed in the claim 8, wherein the particular value corresponds to at least the duration of generation of a control needed to validate the reception of a programming control.

10. An installation comprising a radio frequency remote control transmitter, a radio frequency remote control receiver connected to an actuator driving a moving device of the building of closure (door, gate or window), solar protection, multimedia projection screen, or ventilation flap type, in which a prolonged press on a control key of the transmitter provokes the repeated sending of a frame containing a code of the control key pressed and in which the reception of said frames provokes an action of the receiver on the actuator related to the frame reception duration,

wherein the transmitter executes a step for inserting into the frame sent a time information item representative of a control generation duration, the time information item changing from a first frame to a second frame and wherein the receiver executes a step for extracting this time information item, a step for computing at least one of an application start instant and an application end instant of the control and using the at least one of the application start instant and application end instant to create a control to be applied to the actuator.

11. An installation comprising a radio frequency remote control transmitter, a radio frequency remote control receiver connected to an actuator driving a moving device of a building of closure (door, gate or window), solar protection, multimedia projection screen, or ventilation flap type, in which a prolonged press on a control key of the transmitter provokes the repeated sending of a frame containing a code of the control key pressed and in which the reception of said frames provokes an action of the receiver on the actuator related to the frame reception duration,

wherein the transmitter executes a step for inserting into the frame sent a time information item representative of a control generation duration, the time information item changing from a first frame to a second frame and wherein the receiver executes a step for extracting this time information item, a step for computing at least one of an application start instant and an application end instant of the control which includes a step for computing the theoretical control generation start instant and wherein the control application start instant is determined by applying a predetermined time offset to the theoretical control generation start instant, and using the at least one of the application start instant and application end instant to create a control to be applied to the actuator.

12. An installation comprising a radio frequency remote control transmitter, a radio frequency remote control receiver connected to an actuator driving a moving device of a building of closure (door, gate or window), solar protection, multimedia projection screen, or ventilation flap type, in which a prolonged press on a control key of the transmitter provokes the repeated sending of a frame containing a code of the control key pressed and in which the reception of said frames provokes an action of the receiver on the actuator related to the frame reception duration,

wherein the transmitter executes a step for inserting into the frame sent a time information item representative of a control generation duration, the time information item changing from a first frame to a second frame, wherein the time information item contained in the initial frame presents a particular value, and wherein the receiver executes a step for extracting this time information item and using it to create the control to be applied to the actuator.