Method for operating a motorized shade

• US 9,745,797 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mullet, Willis Jay, Brunk, Darrin W., Wysocynski, Christopher Lee, Asbury, Harry Edward, Hand, Richard Scott, Rodriguez, Yan, Bruckner, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US15/166,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20160273269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 318255, 318265, 318286
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2476 Solar cells
• 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 9/40 Roller blinds usable only as awnings E04F10/06
• 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 9/50 Bearings specially adapted therefor
• 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: 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 architectural covering is provided. The architectural covering includes: shade material; the shade material operatively connected to a motor unit such that movement of the motor unit causes movement of the shade material; the motor unit comprising a DC motor and a shaft connected to the DC motor; a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor unit; a controller unit electrically connected to the motor unit, the controller unit having a microprocessor; and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the motor unit and upon detection of rotation of the motor unit transmit a signal to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor of the controller unit is configured to power an encoder unit in response to determination of manual movement of the shade material. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering may be provided.

Claims

1. An architectural covering, comprising:

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;

the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;

the controller unit having a microprocessor;

a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor;

wherein the power supply unit includes one or more batteries;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor;

the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized, so as to conserve power;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

2. The architectural covering of claim 1, wherein the architectural covering is configured to switch to an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

3. The architectural covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

4. The architectural covering of claim 1, further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

5. The architectural covering of claim 1, further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

6. The architectural covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to output pulses when the motor rotates, the microprocessor is configured to determine a position of the shade material from the pulses.

7. The architectural covering of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device.

8. The architectural covering of claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

9. The architectural covering of claim 1, wherein the controller unit is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

10. An architectural covering comprising

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;

the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;

the controller unit having a microprocessor;

a power supply operatively connected to the motor and the controller unit;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering;

the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller unit;

the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized, so as to conserve power.

11. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the architectural covering is configured to switch to an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

12. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

13. The architectural covering of claim 10, further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

14. The architectural covering of claim 10, further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

15. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to output pulses when the motor rotates, and the microprocessor is configured to determine a position of the shade material from the pulses.

16. The architectural covering of claim 10, further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device.

17. The architectural covering of claim 10, further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the controller unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to switch from an asleep state to the awake state upon reception of an appropriate wireless signal.

18. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the power supply is formed of a plurality of batteries.

19. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the motor is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

20. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the controller unit is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

21. The architectural covering of claim 10, wherein the motor and counterbalance assembly are positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

22. An architectural covering comprising:

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;

the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;

the controller unit having a microprocessor;

a power supply operatively connected to the motor and the controller unit;

a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor;

the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller unit;

the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized so as to conserve power;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

23. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the controller unit is configured to switch to an awake state wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

24. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

25. The architectural covering of claim 22, further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

26. The architectural covering of claim 22, further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

27. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to output pulses when the motor rotates, and the microprocessor is configured to determine a position of the shade material from the pulses.

28. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the controller unit is configured to switch from an asleep state to the awake state upon reception of an appropriate wireless signal.

29. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the power supply is formed of a plurality of batteries.

30. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the motor is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

31. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the controller unit is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

32. The architectural covering of claim 22, wherein the motor and counterbalance assembly are positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

33. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering, comprising:

a motor;

a shaft connected to the motor;

a magnetic device connected to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the magnetic device;

a controller unit electrically connected to the motor, the controller unit having a microprocessor;

a power supply electrically connected to the motor and the controller unit;

at least one Hall Effect sensor positioned adjacent to the magnetic device, the at least one Hall Effect sensor electrically connected to the microprocessor;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized, so as to conserve energy;

wherein when energized, the at least one Hall Effect sensor detects rotation of the shaft and the microprocessor tracks a position of the architectural covering;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the motor, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force.

34. The motor and control unit of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor energizes the at least one Hall Effect sensor in response to a manual movement of the motor.

35. The motor and control unit of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor energizes the at least one Hall Effect sensor in response to a wireless control signal received by the controller unit.

36. The motor and control unit of claim 33, wherein the rotation detector includes at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor and configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

37. The architectural covering of claim 33, further comprising one or more transistors that are connected to a positive lead and/or a negative lead of the motor, wherein the one or more transistors are configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

38. The motor and control unit of claim 33, further comprising a wireless receiver electronically coupled to the microprocessor, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device.

39. The architectural covering of claim 33, further comprising a wireless receiver electronically coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the controller unit is configured to switch from an asleep state to the awake state upon reception of an appropriate wireless signal.

40. The architectural covering of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cut power and place the architectural covering in an asleep state after a predetermined amount of time without movement.

41. The architectural covering of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cut power and place the architectural covering in an asleep state after a predetermined amount of time without receiving a move command signal.

42. A motorized architectural covering comprising:

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the architectural covering;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the architectural covering;

the at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the architectural covering;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, and an asleep state, so as to conserve power;

wherein the shade material is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade, as well as by transmitting a wireless signal to the controller unit using a remote control device;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

43. A motorized architectural covering of claim 42, wherein when in the awake state, power is supplied to the at least one sensor, and wherein when in the asleep state, power is not supplied to the at least one sensor.

44. A motorized architectural covering comprising:

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the architectural covering;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the architectural covering;

the at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the architectural covering;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, and an asleep state, so as to conserve power;

wherein the shade material is movable to a different position by manual movement of the shade, as well as by motorized movement by operation of the motor;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

45. A motorized architectural covering of claim 44, wherein when in the awake state, power is supplied to the at least one sensor, and wherein when in the asleep state, power is not supplied to the at least one sensor.

46. A motorized architectural covering comprising:

shade material;

a motor operatively connected to the shade material;

a controller unit operatively connected to the architectural covering;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the architectural covering;

the at least one sensor configured to detect movement of the architectural covering;

the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, and an asleep state, so as to conserve power;

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

47. A motorized architectural covering of claim 46, wherein when in the awake state, power is supplied to the at least one sensor, and wherein when in the asleep state, power is not supplied to the at least one sensor.