Position detection in an electric drive unit for cords of blinds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331589-B2
Application number	US-202117246183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Sep 4, 2015
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

Techniques including winding, by using an electric motor of the architectural covering, a blind of the architectural covering in a first direction. The techniques further include stopping the winding by the electric motor of the blind in the first direction at a programmatically adjustable wound end position. The techniques further include upon the blind reaching the programmatically adjustable wound end position, winding, by using the electric motor, the blind in an opposite direction to a second position relaxing at least a cord of the blind that is wound by a cord winding/unwinding unit driven by the electric motor, the difference between the programmatically adjustable wound end position and the second position being an amount less than that which would result in movement of the blind to a fully extended position and set based on a length of the blind.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An architectural covering system comprising:
a blind;
an electric motor; and
a controller coupled with the electric motor and configured to control operations of the electric motor to at least:
wind the blind in a first direction;
stop winding the blind in the first direction at a programmatically adjustable wound end position; and
upon the blind reaching the programmatically adjustable wound end position, wind the blind in an opposite direction to a second position relaxing at least a cord of the blind that is wound by a cord winding/unwinding unit driven by the electric motor, the difference between the programmatically adjustable wound end position and the second position being an amount less than that which would result in movement of the blind to a fully extended position and set based on a length of the blind.

2. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein winding the blind in the first direction comprises driving the cord winding/unwinding unit to wind up at least the cord of the blind, and wherein winding the blind in the opposite direction comprises driving the cord winding/unwinding unit to turn in the opposite direction by the amount to relax at least the cord.

3. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rotation detection sensor coupled with the controller and configured to detect increments of a rotation of the electric motor based on a rotating element driven by the electric motor, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position of the blind based on sensor data indicating the increments of the rotation.

4. The architectural covering system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second rotation detection sensor coupled with the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a direction of the rotation based on a phase shift of detection pulses of at least the first rotation detection sensor and the second rotation detection sensor.

5. The architectural covering system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor data comprises detection pulses, wherein the second position is a defined number of detection pulses away from the programmatically adjustable wound end position.

6. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect a speed of a rotation of the electric motor over time and to stop the operations of the electric motor based on a defined reduction of the speed.

7. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the operations of the electric motor to stop the winding of the blind in the first direction comprises causing the electric motor to:
accelerate from a rest position to a first speed;
drive the blind at the first speed for a defined time period;
accelerate, after the defined time period, to a second speed; and
drive the blind at the second speed until the controller controls the electric motor to stop the winding in the first direction.

8. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the winding of the blind in the first direction based on determining a speed of rotation of the electric motor reached a reduced value, or determining that the electric motor has reached an overvalue position that is a defined distance in the first direction from the programmatically adjustable wound end position.

9. The architectural covering system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the programmatically adjustable wound end position by at least:
controlling the electric motor to rotate;
determining a speed of rotation of the electric motor over time;
determining a reduction to the speed; and
responsive to determining that the reduction corresponds to a defined reduction:
determine a current position of the blind at which the reduction is determined to correspond to the defined reduction; and
storing the current position as the programmatically adjustable wound end position.

10. A method for controlling an architectural covering, the method comprising:
winding, by using an electric motor of the architectural covering, a blind of the architectural covering in a first direction;
stopping the winding by the electric motor of the blind in the first direction at a programmatically adjustable wound end position; and
upon the blind reaching the programmatically adjustable wound end position, winding, by using the electric motor, the blind in an opposite direction to a second position relaxing at least a cord of the blind that is wound by a cord winding/unwinding unit driven by the electric motor, the difference between the programmatically adjustable wound end position and the second position being an amount less than that which would result in movement of the blind to a fully extended position and set based on a length of the blind.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
prior to winding the blind in the first direction:
receiving sensor data from a set of sensors of the architectural covering, wherein the sensor data indicates detection pulses of a set of rotating elements coupled with the electric motor;
maintaining a count of the detection pulses; and
determining a current position of the blind based on the count.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
during the winding of the blind in the first direction:
receiving additional sensor data from the set of sensors;
updating the count based on the additional sensor data;
determining that the count is updated to a defined value, wherein the defined value corresponds to the programmatically adjustable wound end position; and
determining that the blind reached the programmatically adjustable wound end position.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second position is set based on a blind type.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
during the winding of the blind in the opposite direction:
receiving additional sensor data from the set of sensors;
updating the count based on the additional sensor data;
determining that the count is updated to a defined number of detection pulses, the defined number corresponding to the second position; and
stopping the winding of the blind in the opposite direction.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second position is set based on a relaxation category.

16. A controller of an architectural covering, the controller comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories storing instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, configure the controller to control operations of an electric motor of the architectural covering to at least:
wind a blind of the architectural covering in a first direction;
stop winding the blind in the first direction at a programmatically adjustable wound end position; and
upon the blind reaching the programmatically adjustable wound end position, wind the blind in an opposite direction to a second position relaxing at least a cord of the blind that is wound by a cord winding/unwinding unit driven by the electric motor, the difference between the programmatically adjustable wound end position and the second position being an amount less than that which would result in movement of the blind to a fully extended position and set based on a length of the blind.

17. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the one or more memories store additional instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, configure the controller to:
determine that a programmed mode is requeste

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas Ind Bv

Inventors

• Rieper Norbert
• Lilienthal Heiko

Classifications

• E06B2009/3222

  Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords · 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

• E06B9/32 Primary

  Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor (operation of tilting bars E06B9/307) · CPC title

• E06B9/68

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

• G05B2219/2653

  Roller blind, shutter, sunshade · CPC title