Systems and methods to automatically adjust window coverings

• US 9,529,345 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartlabs
• Original Assignee: Smartlabs
• Inventors: Cregg, Daniel Brian, Dada, Joseph J., Escobosa, Marcus Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US14/097,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2653 Roller blind, shutter, sunshade
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

An electronic window covering control system automatically controls the position and orientation of a window covering. A window covering controller interfaces with a light intensity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an electronic window covering configured to raise and lower the covering and tilt the slats. The window covering controller sends sensor data to a local receiver and receives window covering commands from the local receiver. The local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network and sends the sensor data to the hub. The hub applies a rule set to make operation decisions based on sensor data and user preferences, and sends messages comprising commands to operate the window covering through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the window covering commands to the window covering controller to automatically control the electronic window covering.

Claims

1. A system to automatically adjust a window covering, the system comprising:

at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data comprising a current state of an area associated with a window;

a hub device in communication with a mesh network and configured to transmit through the mesh network a window covering command to control a position of an electronic window covering configured to at least partially cover and uncover the window, the mesh network configured to propagate the window covering command using powerline signaling and radio frequency (RF) signaling;

a receiver comprising a first antenna and a second antenna, the receiver configured to detect with the first antenna an electromagnetic field generated by a presence of a carrier signal that is added to a powerline waveform, the carrier signal comprising a first RF signal having a first frequency, the presence of the carrier signal indicating that the window covering command is encoded onto the powerline, the receiver further configured to wake up from an inactive state upon detecting the electromagnetic field generated by the presence of the carrier signal on the powerline in order to receive with the second antenna the window covering command via a second RF signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency; and

a window covering controller in communication with the receiver and operably connected to the electronic window covering, the window covering controller configured to automatically adjust the electronic window covering from a first position to a second position based on the window covering command, the window covering controller further in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit the sensor data to the receiver for propagation through the mesh network to the hub device, the hub device further configured to compare the sensor data with a desired state and to provide the window covering command to adjust the position of the window covering based at least in part on the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the powerline signaling comprises message data modulated onto the carrier signal and the modulated carrier signal is added to the powerline waveform, and wherein the RF signaling comprises the message data modulated onto an RF waveform.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a light intensity sensor configured to measure light intensity of the area and to provide light intensity data and a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature of the area and to provide temperature data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the hub device is further configured to compare the temperature data with a desired temperature of the area.

5. The system of claim 3 the hub device further configured to compare the light intensity data with a desired light intensity of the area.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the sensor data further comprises an indication of an identity of a first occupant of the area.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the hub device is further configured to retrieve preferences of the first occupant based at least in part on the indication of the identity.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the hub device is further configured to resolve conflicts between the desired state and the preferences of the first occupant.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hub device is further configured to resolve conflicts between the preferences of the first occupant and preferences of a second occupant.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the hub device resolves the conflicts using one of prioritization and averaging.

11. A method to automatically adjust a window covering, the method comprising:

sensing sensor data comprising a current state of an area associated with a window;

transmitting through a mesh network a window covering command to control a position of an electronic window covering configured to at least partially cover and uncover the window, the mesh network configured to propagate the window covering command using powerline signaling and radio frequency (RF) signaling;

detecting with a first antenna an electromagnetic field generated by a presence of a carrier signal added to a powerline waveform, the carrier signal comprising a first RF signal having a first frequency, the presence of the carrier signal indicating that the window covering command is encoded onto a powerline;

waking up a receiver from an inactive state upon detecting the electromagnetic field generated by the presence of the carrier signal on the powerline in order to receive with a second antenna the window covering command via a second RF signal having a second RF frequency different from the first RF frequency;

automatically adjusting the electronic window covering from a first position to a second position based on the window covering command;

transmitting the sensor data to the receiver for propagation through the mesh network to the hub device; and

comparing the sensor data with a desired state and generating the window covering command to adjust the position of the window covering based at least in part on the comparison.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the powerline signaling comprises message data modulated onto the carrier signal and the modulated carrier signal is added to the powerline waveform, and wherein the RF signaling comprises the message data modulated onto an RF waveform.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the sensor data comprises at least one of light intensity data and temperature data.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing the temperature data with a desired temperature of the area.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing the light intensity data with a desired light intensity of the area.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising sensing an indication of an identity of a first occupant of the area.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising retrieving preferences of the first occupant based at least in part on the indication.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising resolving conflicts between the desired state and the preferences of the first occupant.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising resolving the conflicts between the preferences of the first occupant and preferences of a second occupant.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising using one of prioritizing and averaging to resolve the conflicts.