Shading control network using a control network

• US 9,366,082 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Feldstein, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US14/306,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A control system (700) is disclosed that includes a room controller (704) transmitting signals to both a shade control network (716) and a light control network (718), directing that motorized roller shades (106) and dimmable lights (714) be set to desired intensity levels. The control system further includes an intelligent hub (710) that provides a trickle-charge re-charge current via power-over-Ethernet cables to batteries associated with each of the motorized roller shades for re-charging the batteries, thereby eliminating power supplies being installed within walls. The intelligent hub provides for communication with the room controller based on streaming protocol and with the shade control network based on event-based protocol. A computer (414) running user interface software may be connected to the system to facilitate programing.

Claims

1. A shade control network (716) comprising:

one or more motorized roller shades (106);

one or more electronic drive units (408) (EDU) configured to operate said one or more motorized roller shades; and

an intelligent hub (710) configured to supply electrical power and data communications to said one or more electronic drive units, wherein

a first one of said electronic drive units is configured to receive data communications and electrical power from said intelligent hub, and further wherein

said first one of said one or more electronic drive units being in data communication with said second electronic drive units and providing electrical power to said second electronic drive units, and further wherein

each of said electronic drive units comprises

an elongated motor (502) and a battery (506), and further wherein

said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor, and further wherein

said intelligent hub provides a re-charging current to said battery in each of said one or more electronic drive units via a power-over-Ethernet cable (406).

2. The shading control network according to claim 1, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

control electronics (508), wherein said control electronics includes

an input interface (510), and an output interface (512), and wherein

said input interface is configured to receive data communications and electrical power from either a preceding electronic drive unit or intelligent hub, and wherein

said output interface is configured to transmit data communications and electrical power to a subsequent electronic drive unit.

3. The shading control network according to claim 2, wherein

said control electronics of each of said electronic drive units is configured to trickle charge said battery by controlling said re-charging current received from said intelligent hub.

4. The shading control network according to claim 1, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

a relay switch network configured to cause electrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, and wherein

said relay switch network is further configured to selectively allow one or more batteries in one or more different respective motorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery in said motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.

5. The shading control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a room controller (704) configured to control at least one control network that does not include the one or more motorized roller shades.

6. The shading control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a room controller configured to control both a plurality of motorized roller shades and a plurality of lighting devices;

a Wi-Fi gateway (702) configured to facilitate communications between one or more electronic devices or another network and said room controller;

a television (306) and set-top box (304) configured to communicate with said room controller;

a wide area network (WAN) controller (714) configured to communicate with said room controller; and

a mesh network controller (602) configured to provide bi-directional communications capability with a plurality of interface devices in accordance with a mesh network set of protocols.

7. The shading control system according to claim 6, wherein

said mesh network controller is a Zigbee gateway mesh network controller.

8. The shading control system according to claim 6, wherein

said plurality of interface devices includes one or more of each of a light dimmer (606), keypad (618), motion sensor (604), smoke/fire/biohazard detector (706), and door lock (708).

9. The shading control system according to claim 6, wherein

communications between each of said room controllers and said intelligent hub is based on a streaming protocol, and

communications between said intelligent hub and plurality of interface devices is based on an event-based protocol.

10. The shading control network according to claim 6, wherein

said shading control network is configured as a star network that includes said intelligent hub as a central node, and said room controller, WAN, Wi-Fi gateway, mesh network gateway, and motorized roller shades as star nodes in said star network.

11. The shading control network according to claim 1, wherein

said network configuration between said intelligent hub and said EDUs is configured as a daisy chain network.

12. The shading control network according to claim 1, wherein said motorized roller shade further comprises:

a shade (104); and

a hem bar (808) located at a bottom of said shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batteries (810) electrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorized roller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to provide a trickle-charge re-charging current to said battery of said motorized roller shade.

13. A shade control network (814) comprising:

one or more motorized roller shades (106);

a transformer configured to provide electrical power to a first one of said one or more motorized roller shades via a power cable;

one or more electronic drive units (804) (EDU) configured to operate said one or more motorized roller shades; and

an intelligent hub (710) configured to supply data communications wirelessly to said one or more electronic drive units via a mesh network, wherein

said first one of said one or more electronic drive units being in data communication with said second electronic drive units and providing electrical power to said second electronic drive units, and further wherein

each of said electronic drive units comprises

an elongated motor (502) and a battery (506), and further wherein

said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor.

14. The shade control network according to claim 13, wherein

said one or more electronic drive units are connected to each other via a power-over-Ethernet cable (406), and further wherein,

said transformer provides a re-charging current to each of said batteries in each of said one or more electronic drive units via a power-over-Ethernet cable (406).

15. The shading control network according to claim 14, wherein

said control electronics of each of said electronic drive units is configured to trickle charge said battery by controlling said re-charging current received from said transformer.

16. The shading control network according to claim 15, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

a relay switch configured to cause electrical power to by-pass said electrical drive unit, and wherein

said relay switch is further configured to allow a battery in a different motorized roller shade to draw re-charging power from the battery in the motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.

17. The shading control system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a room controller (704) configured to control at least one control network that does not include the one or more motorized roller shades.

18. The shading control system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a room controller configured to control both a plurality of motorized roller shades and a plurality of lighting devices;

a Wi-Fi gateway (702) configured to facilitate communications between one or more electronic devices or another network and said room controller;

a television (306) and set-top box (304) configured to communicate with said room controller;

a wide area network (WAN) controller (714) configured to communicate with said room controller; and

a mesh network controller (602) configured to provide bi-directional communications capability with a plurality of interface devices in accordance with a mesh network set of protocols.

19. The shading control system according to claim 13, wherein

said mesh network controller is a Zigbee gateway mesh network controller.

20. The shading control system according to claim 13, wherein

said plurality of interface devices includes one or more of each of a light dimmer (606), keypad (618), motion sensor (604), smoke/fire/biohazard detector (706), and door lock (708).

21. The shading control system according to claim 13, wherein

communications between each of said room controllers and said intelligent hub is based on a streaming protocol, and

communications between said intelligent hub and plurality of interface devices is based on an event-based protocol.

22. The shading control network according to claim 13, wherein

said shading control network is configured as a star network that includes said intelligent hub as a central node, and said room controller, WAN, Wi-Fi gateway, and mesh network gateway as star nodes in said star network.

23. The shading control network according to claim 13, wherein

said network configuration among said EDUs is configured as a daisy chain network.

24. The shading control network according to claim 13, wherein said motorized roller shade further comprises:

a shade (104); and

a hem bar (808) located at a bottom of said shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batteries (810) electrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorized roller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to provide a trickle-charge re-charge of said battery of said motorized roller shade.

25. A control system (700) comprising:

at least one shade control network (716) that includes at least one intelligent hub (710), motorized roller shade (106), and a respective electronic data unit (408) for each of the at least one motorized roller shades; and

a room controller (704) configured to control the at least one shade control network, wherein

the room controller is further configured to transmit control signals and database information to each of the at least one motorized roller shades of each at least one shade control network and to receive feedback information therefrom, and wherein

said intelligent hub is connected between said room controller and said shade control network and is configured to facilitate transmission of signals, database information and a trickle-charge re-charging current there between, and still further wherein,

said intelligent hub further includes an information buffer for holding the feedback information from the at least one or more shade control networks for independent retrieval by said room controller.

26. The control system according to claim 25, wherein the shade control network further comprises:

a power-over-Ethernet cable (406) connected between said intelligent hub and each electronic data unit of each of the at least one or more motorized roller shades in a daisy chain fashion, and wherein

each of said electronic drive units includes

an elongated motor (502), and a battery (506), and further wherein

said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor and further wherein

said intelligent hub provides said re-charging current to said battery in each of said one or more electronic drive units via said power-over-Ethernet cable.

27. The control system according to claim 26, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

control electronics (508), wherein said control electronics includes

an input interface (510), and an output interface (512), and wherein

said input interface is configured to receive control signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current from either a preceding electronic drive unit or intelligent hub, and wherein

said output interface is configured to transmit control signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current to a subsequent electronic drive unit, and wherein

said control electronics of each of said electronic drive units is configured to trickle charge said battery by controlling said trickle charging re-charging current received from said intelligent hub.

28. The control system according to claim 25, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

a relay switch network configured to cause electrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, and wherein

said relay switch network is further configured to selectively allow one or more batteries in one or more different respective motorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery in said motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.

29. The shading control network according to claim 25, wherein said motorized roller shade further comprises:

a shade (104); and

a hem bar (808) located at a bottom of said shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batteries (810) electrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorized roller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to provide a trickle-charge re-charge of said battery of said motorized roller shade.

30. A control system (800) comprising:

at least one shade control network (814) that includes at least one transformer, intelligent hub (710), motorized roller shade (106), mesh network controller (602), and a respective electronic data unit (408) for each of the at least one motorized roller shades; and

a room controller (704) configured to control the at least one shade control network, wherein

the room controller is further configured to transmit control signals and database information to each of the at least one motorized roller shades of each at least one shade control networks and to receive feedback information therefrom wirelessly via said mesh network controller, and wherein

said intelligent hub is connected between said room controller and said shade control network and is configured to facilitate transmission of signals, database information, and to manage a trickle-charge re-charging current there-between, and still further wherein,

said intelligent hub further includes an information buffer for holding the feedback information from the at least one or more shade control networks for independent retrieval by said room controller.

31. The control system according to claim 30, wherein the shade control network further comprises:

a power-over-Ethernet cable (406) connected between each of said electronic data units of each of the at least one or more motorized roller shades in a daisy chain fashion, and wherein

each of said electronic drive units includes

an elongated motor (502), and a battery (506), and further wherein

said battery is configured to provide operating power to said elongated motor, and further wherein

said transformer provides said re-charging current to said battery in each of said one or more electronic drive units via a power cable.

32. The control system according to claim 31, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

control electronics (508), wherein said control electronics includes

an input interface (510), and an output interface (512), and wherein

said input interface is configured to receive control signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current from either a preceding electronic drive unit or said transformer, and wherein

said output interface is configured to transmit control signals, database information, and trickle-charge re-charging current to a subsequent electronic drive unit, and wherein

said control electronics of each of said electronic drive units is configured to trickle charge said battery by controlling said trickle charging re-charging current received from said transformer.

33. The control system according to claim 30, wherein said electronic drive unit further comprises:

a relay switch network configured to cause electrical power to selectively by-pass said electrical drive unit, and wherein

said relay switch network is further configured to selectively allow one or more batteries in one or more different respective motorized roller shades to draw re-charging power from said battery in said motorized roller shade associated with said electrical drive unit.

34. The shading control network according to claim 30, wherein said motorized roller shade further comprises:

a shade (104); and

a hem bar (808) located at a bottom of said shade, wherein said hem bar includes one or more small batteries (810) electrically connected to each other and said battery of said motorized roller shade, and wherein said small batteries are configured to provide a trickle-charge re-charge of said battery of said motorized roller shade.