Method for operating a motorized roller shade

• US 8,368,328 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis Jay, Brunk, Darrin W., Wysoczynski, Christopher Lee, Asbury, Harry Edward, Hand, Richard Scott, Rodriguez, Yan, Bruckner, Benjamin Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/711,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/265, 318/286, 160/133, 160/309, 160/310
• US Class Current: 318/255
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6845 sensing position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6872 using counters to determine shutter position
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6881 Mechanical counters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/42 Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor, having a housing fixed to the shade tube, an output shaft fixed to a support bracket and a motor shaft, disposed within the shade tube, and a microcontroller, the method comprising:

detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor;

determining a displacement associated with the manual movement by measuring a rotation of the motor shaft using a magnetic, an optical or a mechanical encoder; and

if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manual movement is a downward movement.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum displacement is about 2 inches.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum displacement is associated with a predetermined number of encoder pulses.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes energizing the DC gear motor, measuring the rotation of the motor shaft using the encoder, and de-energizing the DC gear motor.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the different position is associated with a number of encoder pulses.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the encoder is a magnetic encoder and said measuring the rotation includes counting the number of pulses generated by a multi-pole magnet attached to the motor shaft.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

after the DC gear motor is de-energized, connecting the positive terminal of the DC gear motor and the negative terminal of the DC gear motor together.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

after the manual movement of the shade is detected, disconnecting the positive terminal of the DC gear motor from the negative terminal of the DC gear motor.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said moving the shade is based on the current position of the shade.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the different position is one of a plurality of positions including 25% open, 50% open, 75% open and 100% open.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes moving the shade to the predetermined position directly above the current position.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising if the displacement is greater than the maximum displacement, assigning the current position of the shade to one of a plurality of positions including 0% open, 25% open, 50% open and 75% open.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after the shade has been moved to the different position, applying a brake.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

after the manual movement of the shade is detected, releasing the brake.