Solar-powered, wireless, retrofittable, automatic controller for venetian blinds and similar window converings

• US 5,760,558 A
• Filed: 07/24/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pradeep P. Popat
• Original Assignee: Pradeep P. Popat
• Inventors: Popat, Pradeep P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US08/505,845
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 318/480, 318/17, 318/254, 318/439, 318/138, 318/469, 160/168.1, 160/176.1, 160/176 R, 160/DIG. 17, 160/188, 160/6, 160/7, 136/243, 136/244, 136/252
• US Class Current: 318/480
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6827 sensing light
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 160/17 Venetian blinds, motor driven

Abstract

A system for automatic operation of venetian blinds and similar window coverings. A preferred embodiment, system 30, can be retrofitted to any conventional venetian blind without tools, removal of the blind, or installation of wiring (FIG. 10A). System 30 is attached to a blind 15 by a bracket 80, which engages a headrail 16 of blind 15, and is secured by a thumbscrew 84 (FIG. 4C). System 30 includes a gearmotor 85 which drives a coupling tube 91; coupling tube 91 is attached to a tilt-adjustment shaft 18 of blind 15 (FIG. 3A). The mechanical coupling between gearmotor 85 and coupling tube 91 includes a flexible coupling and an extensible coupling, which enable gearmotor 85 to rotate shaft 18 over a wide range of sizes and configurations of blind 15 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). System 30 also includes a photovoltaic source 31 mounted on a flexible member 99. Member 99 provides electrical connections to source 31, and supports it in an advantageous position to receive solar radiation (FIGS. 8B and 8C), regardless of the size and mounting arrangement of blind 15. System 30 also includes four momentary-contact electrical switches 38 to 41 and an actuating body 94, to which a tilt-control wand 19 of blind 15 can be attached. Together, actuating body 94 and switches 38 to 41 enable system 30 to be conveniently controlled by rotary and axial movements of wand 19 (FIG. 10A).

Claims

1. A system for motorized operation of a venetian blind, said venetian blind having a headrail and a tilt-adjustment shaft, said headrail having a front wall, said tilt-adjustment shaft protruding from said headrail, said system including:

a) an electromechanical rotary actuator, said actuator having an output member;

b) coupling means for coupling said output member of said actuator to said tilt-adjustment shaft whereby rotation of said output member causes said tilt-adjustment shaft to rotate, said coupling means including an extensible coupling and a flexible coupling, said extensible coupling located between said output member and said tilt-adjustment shaft, said flexible coupling located between said extensible coupling and said tilt-adjustment shaft; and

c) attaching means for externally attaching said actuator to said headrail, said attaching means including a flexible mount for said actuator, whereby the orientation of said actuator is variable, over a predetermined angular range, about a horizontal axis parallel to said front wall of said headrail.

2. A system for motorized operation of a venetian blind, said venetian blind having a headrail and a tilt-adjustment shaft, said headrail having a front wall, said tilt-adjustment shaft protruding from said headrail;

said system including;

a) an electromechanical rotary actuator, said actuator having an output member;

b) coupling means for coupling said output member of said actuator to said tilt-adjustment shaft so that rotation of said output member causes said tilt-adjustment shaft to rotate; and

c) attaching means for externally attaching said actuator to said headrail, said attaching means including;

i) variable orienting means for varying the orientation of said actuator relative to said headrail, over a predetermined angular range, about a horizontal axis parallel to said front wall of said headrail, and

ii) variable positioning means for varying the location of said actuator, relative to said headrail, within a predetermined portion of a vertical plane perpendicular to said front wall of said headrail.

3. A switching system to produce signals for control of an automatic window covering, said system for use with a control wand, said control wand having a major axis, said system including:

a) an actuating body;

b) rotary biasing means for rotatably biasing said actuating body, about an axis of rotation, to an initial angular position;

c) first switching means for producing a first switching signal in response to a clockwise rotational displacement of said actuating body, about said axis of rotation, of less than one revolution relative to said initial angular position;

d) second switching means for producing a second switching signal in response to a counterclockwise rotational displacement of said actuating body, about said axis of rotation, of less than one revolution relative to said initial angular position;

e) supporting means for physically supporting said control wand with said major axis oriented vertically;

f) coupling means for rotatably coupling said control wand to said actuating body, whereby;

i) rotations of said control wand about said major axis are coupled to said actuating body;

ii) said first switching signal is produced in response to a clockwise rotation of said control wand, about said major axis, of less than one revolution relative to an initial wand orientation; and

iii) said second switching signal is produced in response to a counterclockwise rotation of said control wand, about said major axis, of less than one revolution relative to said initial wand orientation.

4. A switching system to produce signals for control of an automatic window covering, said system for use with a control wand, said control wand having a major axis, said system including:

a) an actuating body, said actuating body including a reference point, the location of said reference point fixed with respect to said actuating body;

b) first switching means for producing a first switching signal in response to rotation of said actuating body about an axis passing through said reference point;

c) second switching means for producing a second switching signal in response to linear displacement of said reference point of said actuating body;

d) supporting means for physically supporting said control wand with said major axis oriented vertically; and

e) coupling means for coupling said control wand to said actuating body, whereby rotary and axial movements of said control wand are coupled to said actuating body, so that said first switching signal is produced in response to rotation of said control wand about said major axis, and said second switching signal is produced in response to vertical movement of said control wand along said major axis.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said first switching means includes a first switch and a second switch, and said second switching means includes a third switch and a fourth switch, said first switch responsive to clockwise rotation of said control wand, said second switch responsive to counterclockwise rotation of said control wand, said third switch responsive to upward movement of said control wand, and said fourth switch responsive to downward movement of said control wand.

6. A solar-electric power supply for use with a window covering, said window covering mounted in proximity to a window, said window covering including a headrail and shading means, said headrail having a long dimension, said shading means suspended from said headrail, said power supply including:

a) an electrical storage battery;

b) a photovoltaic source;

c) a support member, said support member comprising a continuous strip of material, said strip including a bend, said bend dividing said strip into an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion physically coupled to said battery, said lower portion physically coupled to said photovoltaic source;

d) an electrical conductor, said conductor attached to said support member, said conductor electrically coupled to said battery and said photovoltaic source; and

e) attaching means for attaching said support member to said headrail, with;

i) said upper portion of said support member passing above said headrail,

ii) said bend of said support member having an axis parallel to said long dimension of said headrail, said bend located between said headrail and a first plane containing said window,

iii) said lower portion of said support member extending substantially downward from said upper portion, said lower portion located between said first plane and a second plane containing said shading means, and

iv) said photovoltaic source located between said first plane and said second plane.

7. The power supply of claim 6 wherein said support member includes a flexible portion, said flexible portion capable of bending about a plurality of axes which are parallel to said long dimension of said headrail.

8. The power supply of claim 7 wherein said photovoltaic source is a flexible photovoltaic source, said flexible source capable of bending about a plurality of axes which are parallel to said long dimension of said headrail.

9. A photovoltaic source for use with a window, said source including:

a) a support member, said member comprising a continuous strip of material, said member having a front side and a back side, said member including a first fold, a second fold, and a third fold;

each of said folds parallel to a reference axis;

said folds dividing said front side of said member into a first substantially planar region, a second substantially planar region, a third substantially planar region, and a fourth substantially planar region;

said first fold forming the top of said first region and the bottom of said second region, said second fold forming the top of said second region and the bottom of said third region, and said third fold forming the top of said third region and the bottom of said fourth region;

said first region having a first angle of inclination with respect to a reference plane, said second region being substantially parallel to said reference plane, and said fourth region being substantially parallel to said first region;

b) a first photoactive surface, said first photoactive surface located on said first region;

c) a second photoactive surface, said second photoactive surface located on said fourth region;

whereby, when said member is positioned so that said front side of said member faces said window, said reference axis is horizontal, and said reference plane is parallel to said window, then said first photoactive surface and said fourth photoactive surface have said first angle of inclination with respect to said window.

10. The source of claim 9 wherein said member is flexible along a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, said first axis passing through said first fold, said second axis passing through said second fold, and said third axis passing through said third fold.

11. The source of claim 9 wherein said second region includes a reflective surface.

12. The source of claim 9 wherein said third region includes a reflective surface.