High efficiency roller shade and method for setting artificial stops

• US 8,947,027 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Qmotion Incorporated
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis Jay, Rodriguez, Yan, Garcia, Ben L., Mullet, Victoria Baynes, Kirkland, Matthew Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Glass, Erick
• Application Number:
  US14/018,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/265, 318/286
• US Class Current: 318/255
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• 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 2009/725 with epicyclic or planetary gear train
• 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 9/44 Rollers therefor; Fastening roller blinds to rollers
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/60 Spring drums operated only by closure members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/62 Counterweighting arrangements E06B9/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/74 adapted for selective electrical or manual operation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/06 Manually-operated multi-position starters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/06 for stopping or slowing an individual dynamo-electric motor or dynamo-electric converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/08 for stopping or slowing a dc motor

Abstract

The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motorized roller shade, the method comprising:

providing a roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube;

positioning a DC gear motor having an output shaft within the shade tube;

operatively coupling the output shaft to a support bracket;

detecting a manual displacement of the shade using a sensor;

determining if the manual 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 if the manual displacement is less than a maximum displacement;

maintaining a manually displaced position of the shade if the manual displacement is greater than a maximum displacement.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the manual displacement is greater than a maximum displacement the DC gear motor is not energized and the new position of the shade is maintained.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning at least one counterbalance spring within the shade tube.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining if the manual displacement is less than a maximum displacement is done by measuring a rotation of the output shaft using a magnetic, an optical or a mechanical encoder.

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

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

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

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes energizing the DC gear motor, measuring the rotation of the output shaft using the encoder, and de-energizing the DC gear motor.

9. The method according to claim 8, 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.

10. The method according to claim 8, 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 to provide a brake.

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

12. 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.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said moving the shade to a different position includes moving the shade to the predetermined position directly above the current position.

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 1, further comprising:

after the manual displacement of the shade is detected, releasing a brake.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manual displacement is less than a maximum displacement the manual displacement is a tug.

17. A motorized roller shade comprising:

a shade tube;

a shade attached to the shade tube;

a DC gear motor positioned within the shade tube;

the DC gear motor having an output shaft;

the output shaft operatively connected to a support bracket;

a motor controller operatively connected to the DC gear motor;

an antenna operatively connected to the motor controller;

a remote wirelessly connected to the antenna; and

wherein the shade is movable to a different position by a tug on the shade, manual movement of the shade, or transmitting a wireless signal using the remote.

18. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein a tug is a manual displacement less than a maximum displacement.

19. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein manual movement is a manual displacement greater than a maximum displacement.

20. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein a tug is detected by a sensor.

21. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein a tug is detected by measuring a rotation of the output shaft using a magnetic, an optical or a mechanical encoder.

22. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein when a tug is detected the motor controller energizes the DC gear motor which rotates the shade tube.

23. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 wherein when a manual movement is detected the motor controller does not energize the DC gear motor.

24. The motorized roller shade of claim 17 further comprising at least one counterbalance spring positioned within the shade tube.