Safety detector for motorized blinds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156093-B2
Application number	US-201715474642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A headrail for a motorized window covering is described that includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor that is configured to actuate a window covering. The headrail includes a safety detector with one or more sensors that detect an irregular strain when the window covering is being raised. The headrail may further comprise a recoil mechanism or a deactivation mechanism to reduce the likelihood of damage to the window coverings and/or individuals caught or tangled in the window covering.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A headrail for motorized window coverings comprising:
a motor;
a gearbox coupled to the motor and comprising an output shaft that raises and lowers and/or opens and closes slats for a window covering;
a safety detector comprising:
one or more sensors within the gearbox and adjacent to the output shaft that detect an increase in torque required to turn the output shaft of 10% or more from a preprogrammed threshold value when raising the window covering that is indicative of at least a 10% increase in load weight;
a transceiver for communicating real time sensor data to a microcontroller; and
a recoil mechanism, operatively connected to the transceiver, which in turn is operatively connected to the microcontroller that cancels inputs and/or deactivates preprogrammed settings in response to a digital signal indicating the load weight has increased at least 10%, and communicates with the motor to change the window covering's direction of movement, which thereby loosens cords and/or strings connected to the output shaft in order to lower the window covering.

2. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a variable reluctance sensor, torque sensor, current sensor, shock detector, flex sensor, linear encoder, and/or position sensor.

3. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the safety detector further comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

4. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the safety detector further comprises a processor for computing sensor data.

5. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the safety detector further comprises a database for recording sensor data and storing data for data comparisons.

6. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a comparator for comparing real-time load inputs to previously stored load data and sending a digital signal to the recoil mechanism that the load weight has increased at least 10% from an expected threshold.

7. The headrail of claim 1 , wherein the sensor detector further comprises a communication system that emits an alert signal to communicate to a user that the load weight has increased at least 10%.

8. The headrail of claim 7 , wherein the alert signal comprises an auditory, visual, or pulsating alert.

9. The headrail of claim 7 , wherein the communication system is in communication with a wireless output device for receiving the alert signal.

10. A headrail for motorized window coverings comprising:
a motor;
a gearbox coupled to the motor and comprising an output shaft that raises and lowers and/or opens and closes slats for a window covering;
a safety detector comprising:
one or more sensors within the gearbox and adjacent to the output shaft that detect an increase in torque required to turn the output shaft of 10% or more from a preprogrammed threshold value when raising the window covering that is indicative of at least a 10% increase in load weight;
a transceiver for communicating real time sensor data to a microcontroller; and
a deactivation mechanism, operatively connected to the transceiver, which in turn is operatively connected to the microcontroller that sends a digital signal to the motor to deactivate in order to stop further raising of the window covering.

11. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a variable reluctance sensor, torque sensor, current sensor, shock detector, flex sensor, linear encoder, and/or position sensor.

12. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the safety detector further comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

13. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the safety detector further comprises a processor for computing sensor data.

14. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the safety detector further comprises a database for recording sensor data and storing data for data comparisons.

15. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a comparator for comparing real-time load inputs to previously stored load data and sending a digital signal to the deactivation mechanism when the load is higher then an expected threshold.

16. The headrail of claim 10 , wherein the safety detector further comprises a communication system that emits an alert signal to communicate to a user of that the load weight has increased at least 10%.

17. The headrail of claim 16 , wherein the communication system further comprises a timer for sending a repeating alert at periodic increments.

18. The headrail of claim 16 , wherein the alert signal comprises an auditory, visual, or pulsating alert.

19. The headrail of claim 16 , wherein the communication system is in communication with a wireless output device for receiving the alert signal.

20. The headrail of claim 19 , wherein the output device further comprises a user interface.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Brimhall Emily
• Carlson Austin
• Madsen Mark
• Wilson Lloyd J
• Hall Labs Llc

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Brimhall Emily
• Carlson Austin
• Madsen Mark
• Wilson Lloyd J

Classifications

• E06B9/325 Primary

  Immobilising devices preventing raising · CPC title

• E06B2009/285

  Means for actuating a rod (being tilt rod or lift rod) · CPC title

• E06B9/322 Primary

  Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives ({operating devices E06B9/68} ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34) · CPC title

• E06B9/307

  Details of tilting bars and their operation · CPC title

• E06B9/303

  with ladder-tape · CPC title