Programmable wall station for automated window and door coverings

• US 8,892,262 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Qmotion Incorporated
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis J., Garcia, Ben L., Rodriguez, Yan, Hughes, Jeffrey P., Kirkland, Matthew W., Watts, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US13/231,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20130067480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/278, 700/299, 700/284, 160/5, 318/452
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive

Abstract

A programmable wall station system for controlling automated coverings includes at least one automated covering adapted to receive command signals, and a computer which includes a processor and a computer connection port. The processor is programmed to receive location input, position input for the automated coverings, schedule input, and generate scheduled events based on any of the received input. A wall station includes a controller and a station connection port that is linkable to the computer connection port. The controller is programmed to receive scheduled events from the processor when the station connection port and computer connection port are linked to one another and generate command signals based on the scheduled events for receipt by the automated covering to control its operation.

Claims

1. A programmable wall station system for controlling automated coverings, comprising:

at least one automated covering adapted to receive command signals;

a computer including a processor and a computer connection port, said processor programmed to;

receive location input;

receive position input for said at least one automated covering;

receive schedule input; and

generate a plurality of scheduled events based on any of said received input; and

a wall station including a controller and a station connection port that is linkable to said computer connection port, said controller programmed to;

receive said plurality of scheduled events from said processor when said station connection port and said computer connection port are linked to one another; and

generate command signals based on said scheduled events when said station connection port and said computer connection port are de-linked from one another and transmitting said command signals which implement said plurality of scheduled events for receipt by said at least one automated covering to control operation thereof.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said wall station further comprises:

an up button that upon actuation sends an up command signal to said at least one automated covering;

a down button that upon actuation sends a down command signal to said at least one automated covering; and

at least one intermediary position button that upon actuation sends a movement command signal to said at least one automated covering.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said wall station further comprises three intermediary buttons whereupon actuation of a first intermediary position button said at least one automated window covering moves to a 25% closed position, whereupon actuation of a second intermediary position button said at least one automated window covering moves to a 50% closed position, and whereupon actuation of a third intermediary position button said at least one automated window covering moves to a 75% closed position.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said location input is a postal code.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to:

generate command signals based on said received location input and a day of the year.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor sets a controller time and date in said controller when said wall station is linked to said computer.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said wall station comprises at least one

manual user input button which, when actuated, generates a command signal to move said covering to a desired position until a next scheduled event occurs.

8. A method for controlling automated coverings, comprising:

inputting a geographic location for a plurality of automated coverings, positions for said plurality of automated coverings, and a schedule for said plurality of automated coverings into a computer processor which has a computer connection port;

generating an event schedule of a plurality of events for said plurality of automated coverings based on any of said received input entered into said computer processor;

linking said computer processor to a wall station that includes a controller and a station connection port so as to connect said computer connection port to said station connection port and load said event schedule of said plurality of events into said wall station;

de-linking said computer processor from said wall station which maintains said event schedule by disconnecting said computer connection port from said station connection port; and

generating and transmitting command signals, which are based on said event schedule by said wall station when de-linked from said computer processor to control positioning of said plurality of automated coverings.

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

actuating one of an up button and a down button on said wall station to move said at least one automated covering.

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

actuating at least one intermediary position button on said wall station to move said at least one automated covering to a designated position.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein actuation of said intermediary position button moves said at least one covering to a 25%, 50% or 75% closed position.

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

adjusting said event schedule based on said geographic location and a day of year.

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

re-setting a time clock maintained by said wall station during the linking step.

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

linking said wall station to a home automation network and receiving said scheduled events therefrom.

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

uploading said scheduled events from said wall station to another computer processor.

16. The method according to claim 8, comprising:

manually actuating at least one button on said wall station to move said covering to a desired position until an event from said event schedule moves said covering again.