Motor assemblies for architectural coverings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11834903-B2
Application number	US-202017107485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

Example motor assemblies for architectural coverings are described herein. An example motor assembly includes a motor, a first switch to trigger the motor to retract an architectural covering, a second switch to trigger the motor to extend the architectural covering, and an actuator positioned to activate the first switch when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and to activate the second switch when the actuator is rotated in a second direction. Also described herein are example lever actuators for motor assemblies of architectural coverings. An example lever actuator detaches from the motor assembly to prevent excess force on the motor assembly that could otherwise detrimentally affect the motor assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit board for an architectural covering, the circuit board comprising:
a set of switches to control movement of the architectural covering; and
a motor controller coupled with the set of switches via the circuit board, the motor controller configured to:
detect, while a motor is deactivated, a first-time switch activation, the motor coupled with the architectural covering, the first-time switch activation being based on a rotation in a first direction of an actuator positioned adjacent the circuit board;
determine that the first-time switch activation corresponds to a first switch from the set of switches;
determine that the first switch is associated with a first architectural covering direction;
activate the motor to move the architectural covering in the first architectural covering direction;
detect, while the motor is activated, a second-time switch activation; and
cease activation of the motor based on the second-time switch activation.

2. The circuit board of claim 1 , wherein the set of switches comprises:
the first switch to trigger the motor to extend the architectural covering; and
a second switch to trigger the motor to retract the architectural covering, and wherein determining that the first-time switch activation corresponds to the first switch comprises determining that the first switch has been activated based on the actuator positioned adjacent to the circuit board and coupled with a user touch point.

3. The circuit board of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first-time switch activation corresponds to the first switch comprises:
receiving a voltage signal corresponding to the first-time switch activation; and
determining that the voltage signal corresponds to the first switch instead of a second switch from the set of switches.

4. The circuit board of claim 1 , wherein the motor controller is further configured to:
determine that the second-time switch activation corresponds to at least one of:
the first switch or a second switch from the set of switches, wherein the second switch is associated with a second direction for moving the architectural covering.

5. The circuit board of claim 1 , wherein the motor is activated at a first speed, and wherein the motor controller is further configured to: increase a speed of the motor from the first speed to a second speed after a predefined threshold time from the motor being activated at the first speed.

6. The circuit board of claim 1 , further comprising a memory that stores a position limit, and wherein the motor controller is further configured to:
detect, while the motor is deactivated, a third-time switch activation;
activate the motor to move the architectural covering in the first direction or a second direction based on the third-time switch activation;
determine, upon the movement of the architectural covering via the motor, that a position of the architectural covering reached the position limit stored in the memory; and
cease activation of the motor based on the position of the architectural covering.

7. The circuit board of claim 6 , wherein the motor controller is further configured to:
reduce a speed of the motor within a threshold time prior to the position of the architectural covering reaching the position limit, wherein the threshold time is stored in the memory.

8. A method for controlling movement of an architectural covering, the method implemented by a motor controller coupled with a set of switches on a circuit board, the method comprising:
detecting, while a motor is deactivated, a first-time switch activation, the motor coupled with the architectural covering, the first-time switch activation being based on a rotation in a first direction of an actuator positioned adjacent the circuit board;
determining that the first-time switch activation corresponds to a first switch from the set of switches;
determining that the first switch is associated with a first architectural covering direction;
activating the motor to move the architectural covering in the first architectural covering direction;
detecting, while the motor is activated, a second-time switch activation; and
ceasing activation of the motor based on the second-time switch activation.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that the second-time switch activation is not detected within a threshold time from the first-time switch activation, wherein the activation of the motor is ceased based on the second-time switch activation not being within the threshold time from the first-time switch activation.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting, while the motor is deactivated, a third-time switch activation;
detecting a fourth-time switch activation within the threshold time from the third-time switch activation;
determining, based on the fourth-time switch activation being within the threshold time from the third-time switch activation, a stored position from a memory of the circuit board; and
activating the motor to move the architectural covering to the stored position.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing one or more indicators to alert a user about moving the architectural covering to the stored position;
determining that the architectural covering reached the stored position; and
ceasing activation of the motor based on the architectural covering reaching the stored position.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining a current position of the architectural covering; and
determining a direction to move the architectural covering based on the current position and the stored position, wherein the motor is activated according to the direction.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that a duration of the second-time switch activation exceeds a threshold time period;
determining, based on the duration exceeding the threshold time period, a position of the architectural covering corresponding to when the activation of the motor is ceased; and
storing the position of the architectural covering as a setting in a memory of the circuit board.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing, to a user, one or more indicators that the position is stored as the setting.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, upon execution by a motor controller coupled with a set of switches on a circuit board, cause the motor controller to perform operations comprising:
detecting, while a motor is deactivated, a first-time switch activation, the motor coupled with an architectural covering, the first-time switch activation being based on a rotation in a first direction of an actuator positioned adjacent the circuit board;
determining that the first-time switch activation corresponds to a first switch from the set of switches;
determining that the first switch is associated with a first architectural covering direction;
activating the motor to move the architectural covering in the first architectural covering direction;
detecting, while the motor is activated, a second-time switch activation; and
ceasing activation of the motor based on the second-time switch activation.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting, while the motor is deactivated, a third-time switch activation;
detecting that the third-time switch activation corresponds to a request to adjust a position limit to which the architectural covering can be moved;
detecting a fourth-time

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Anthony James M
• Dann Kevin M
• Huber Daniel A
• Brayford Paul
• Lorenz Douglas J
• Kolozs James
• Holt Ronald
• Nelson Todd
• Yenzer Shelby Jared
• Cooper Charles
• Zagone Peter
• Wisecup Stephen T
• Prügner Jan
• Witt Robert
• Schierz Jörg

Classifications

• E06B2009/6818

  using sensors · CPC title

• H01H19/46

  the operating part having three operative positions, e.g. off/star/delta · CPC title

• E06B9/78

  for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles · CPC title

• E06B9/68

  Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive · CPC title

• E06B9/34 Primary

  roller-type; {Roller shutters with adjustable lamellae} · CPC title