Maintenance and operation of a window shade system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11414926-B2
Application number	US-202016796490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2019
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A motorized window shade system may comprise a shade tube in a pocket; a window shade attached to the shade tube; a motor configured to rotate the shade tube; an internal temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of the motor; an external temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature of the pocket; and a controller configured to adjust a mode of the system from an override mode to an automated mode.

First claim

We claim:

1. A motorized window shade system comprising:
a shade tube in a pocket, wherein the pocket includes a first wall that is attached to a first end of the shade tube and a second wall that is attached to a second end of the shade tube;
a window shade attached to the shade tube;
a motor inside the pocket and configured to rotate the shade tube to cause the window shade to at least partially cover a window;
an internal temperature sensor located inside the motor that is inside the pocket, wherein the internal temperature sensor measures a first temperature of the motor that is inside the pocket;
an external temperature sensor located inside the pocket and outside of the motor, wherein the external temperature sensor measures a second temperature of the pocket based on heat gain from solar radiation that enters a space between the window shade and the window, wherein the heat gain rises from the space between the window shade and the window and into the pocket;
a controller that compares the first temperature to the second temperature to obtain a difference; and
the controller adjusts a mode of the system from an override mode to an automated mode, in response to the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature of the pocket based on the heat gain from the solar radiation that enters the space between the window shade and the window exceeding a threshold.

2. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to raise the window shade, in response to a reduction in solar radiation in the pocket.

3. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to raise the window shade to a particular setting, based on a reduction in solar radiation in the pocket, solar angle and solar orientation.

4. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the mode of the system from the override mode to the automated mode, in response to a time period.

5. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the mode of the system from the override mode to the automated mode, in response to an event.

6. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the internal temperature sensor is located within a gear box of the motor.

7. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the external temperature sensor is located on an outside surface of the motor.

8. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller compensates for the first temperature of the motor, wherein the first temperature is increased by a degradation of the motor.

9. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller adjusts a threshold for sending a notification to compensate for a degradation of the motor.

10. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller restricts activation of the motor, in response to the second temperature being above the threshold.

11. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller raises the window shade to release heat around the motor, in response to the second temperature being above the threshold.

12. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller compares the second temperature to a third temperature predicted from analyzing sky conditions to verify the third temperature.

13. The window shade system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer configured to acquire vibration data from at least one of a component of the window shade system or an environment around the window shade system.

14. The window shade system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer in communication with the controller.

15. The window shade system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer on a hembar, wherein the hembar is in the window shade.

16. The window shade system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer, and wherein the controller adjusts a threshold for sending a notification about excessive vibration to compensate for a degradation of the motor.

17. The window shade system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an anemometer, a current detector, an encoder or a kill switch, in communication with the controller.

18. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a notification, in response to a problem with the window shade system.

19. The window shade system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a notification, in response to a problem with the window shade system, wherein the notification includes an error code and a serial number for the motor.

20. A method comprising:
measuring a first temperature of a motor inside a pocket using an internal temperature sensor located inside the motor, wherein the motor is configured to rotate a shade tube having a window shade to cause the window shade to at least partially cover a window;
measuring a second temperature of the pocket using an external temperature sensor located inside the pocket and outside of the motor, wherein the second temperature is based on heat gain from solar radiation that enters a space between the window shade and the window, wherein the heat gain rises from the space between the window shade and the window and into the pocket, wherein the motor is in the pocket, and wherein the pocket includes a first wall that is attached to a first end of the shade tube and a second wall that is attached to a second end of the shade tube;
comparing the first temperature to the second temperature to obtain a difference; and
adjusting a mode of the system from an override mode to an automated mode, in response to the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature of the pocket based on the heat gain from the solar radiation that enters the space between the window shade and the window exceeding a threshold.

Assignees

• Mechoshade Sys Llc

Inventors

• Hebeisen Stephen P
• Liarno Xi Ming
• Miroshnichenko Eugene

Classifications

• E06B9/42

  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 title

• E06B9/322

  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

• E06B2009/6818

  using sensors · CPC title

• E06B2009/6872

  using counters to determine shutter position · CPC title

• E06B9/72 Primary

  comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller · CPC title