Accelerometer on motor to proactively identify failures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12037848-B2
Application number	US-202217860972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2022
Priority date	Feb 20, 2019
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

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 method comprising:
determining, by a processor, at least one of a base vibration amplitude, a base vibration frequency or a base vibration pattern of a motor, based on a first input from a first accelerometer associated with the motor at a first timeframe;
determining, by the processor, at least one of a changed vibration amplitude, a changed vibration frequency or a changed vibration pattern of the motor, based on a second input from the first accelerometer associated with the motor at a second timeframe; and
adjusting, by the processor, operating parameters of the motor to compensate for at least one of the changed vibration amplitude, the changed vibration frequency or the changed vibration pattern of the motor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first accelerometer is located in the motor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first accelerometer is located in a gear box of the motor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining at least one of the base vibration amplitude, the base vibration frequency or the base vibration pattern of the motor is while adjusting a window shade from a top limit to a bottom limit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining at least one of the base vibration amplitude, the base vibration frequency or the base vibration pattern of the motor is from at least one of damage to a component, improper operation of the component, an earthquake or settling of a building.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the operating parameters occurs proactively before a failure of the motor occurs.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the operating parameters includes reducing a temperature reading from a temperature sensor associated with the motor to compensate for the extra heat from a degradation of the motor.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the processor, a notification signal, in response to the determining at least one of the changed vibration amplitude, the changed vibration frequency or the changed vibration pattern of the motor meets a threshold.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the processor, a notification signal with data about an impacted component, in response to the determining at least one of the changed vibration amplitude, the changed vibration frequency or the changed vibration pattern of the motor meets a threshold.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the processor, a notification signal, in response to the adjusting the operating parameters.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the notification signal causes at least one of activating an alarm, providing a visual indicator, providing a signal to another system, providing a notice via a messaging system, sending a notice to a maintenance person, sending a notice to a smart phone or sending a notice to a building management system.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor interfaces with a window shade tube that is part of a window shade system.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, data from a second accelerometer that obtains data from at least one of a hembar, a batten, a drive train or an obstacle of a window shade system.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, seismic activity data from the first accelerometer.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, hembar data from a second accelerometer at least one of on a hembar or within the hembar.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, at least one of a base temperature, a base amplitude or a base frequency of the motor;
determining, by the processor, at least one of a changed temperature, a changed amplitude or a changed frequency of the motor; and
further adjusting, by the processor, the operating parameters of the motor to compensate for at least one of the changed temperature, the changed amplitude or the changed frequency of the motor.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the changed vibration frequency is in response to squeaking of a component.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, vibration data from an environment around the window shade system.

19. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining, by the processor, at least one of a base vibration amplitude, a base vibration frequency or a base vibration pattern of a motor, based on a first input from a first accelerometer associated with the motor at a first timeframe;
determining, by the processor, at least one of a changed vibration amplitude, a changed vibration frequency or a changed vibration pattern of the motor, based on a second input from the first accelerometer associated with the motor at a second timeframe; and
adjusting, by the processor, operating parameters of the motor to compensate for at least one of the changed vibration amplitude, the changed vibration frequency or the changed vibration pattern of the motor.

20. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,
the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining, by the processor, at least one of a base vibration amplitude, a base vibration frequency or a base vibration pattern of a motor, based on a first input from a first accelerometer associated with the motor at a first timeframe;
determining, by the processor, at least one of a changed vibration amplitude, a changed vibration frequency or a changed vibration pattern of the motor, based on a second input from the first accelerometer associated with the motor at a second timeframe; and
adjusting, by the processor, operating parameters of the motor to compensate for at least one of the changed vibration amplitude, the changed vibration frequency or the changed vibration pattern of the motor.

Assignees

• Mechoshade Sys Llc

Inventors

• Hebeisen Stephen P
• Liarno Xi Ming
• Miroshnichenko Eugene

Classifications

• E06B9/34

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

• H02K11/20

  for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching (rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33) · CPC title

• G05B11/011

  details of the correcting means · CPC title

• E06B2009/6818

  using sensors · CPC title

• E06B2009/3265

  Emergency release to prevent strangulation or excessive load · CPC title