Motorized sheer shading system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611689-B2
Application number	US-201414450211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2014
Priority date	Aug 2, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A motorized sheer shading system may move a sheer shade material between an open position, a closed position, and a view position. The shading system may move the sheer shade material from the open position to the closed position at a first average rotational speed, and from the closed position to the view position at a second average rotational speed. The shading system may automatically determine a control limit that corresponds to the closed position of the sheer shade material after control limits have been set for the open position and the view position. The shading system may cause the sheer shade material to stop moving once it reaches the closed position if the raise button of a remote control is still depressed, and may cause the sheer shade material to stop moving once it reaches the closed position if the lower button of the remote control is still depressed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motorized sheer shading system comprising:
a housing;
a roller tube that is rotatably mounted to the housing;
a sheer shade material that is windingly attached to the roller tube, the sheer shade material including a first sheer fabric, a second sheer fabric that is spaced from the first sheer fabric, and a plurality of vanes that are pivotally attached to the first and second sheer fabrics;
a motor that is operatively coupled to the roller tube; and
a control system that is configured to:
upon receiving an open command that is indicative of actuation of a first button of a remote control device that is associated with the motorized sheer shade system, cause the motor to move the sheer shade material to an open position in which a portion of the sheer shade material is wound about the roller tube;
upon receiving a close command that is indicative of actuation of a second button of the remote control device, cause the motor to move the sheer shade material to a closed position in which the sheer shade material at least partially covers an opening and impedes visualization therethrough;
upon receiving a view command that is indicative of actuation of a third button of the remote control device, cause the motor to move the sheer shade material to a view position in which the sheer shade material at least partially covers the opening and permits visualization therethrough;
upon receiving a raise command that is indicative of actuation of a fourth button of the remote control device, cause the motor to move the sheer shade material from the view position toward the closed position while the fourth button is continuously depressed, or to move the sheer shade material from the closed position toward the open position while the fourth button is continuously depressed;
upon receiving a lower command that is indicative of actuation of a fifth button of the remote control device, cause the motor to move the sheer shade material from the open position toward the closed position while the fifth button is continuously depressed, or to move the sheer shade material from the closed position toward the view position while the fifth button is continuously depressed; and
when the sheer shade material moves between the view position and the closed position toward the closed position, cause the motor to stop moving the sheer shade material once the sheer shade material reaches the closed position if the fourth button is still actuated.

2. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to cause the motor to rotate the roller tube at a first average rotational speed while moving the sheer shade material from the open position to the closed position, and to cause the motor to rotate the roller tube at a second average rotational that is slower than the first average rotational speed while moving the sheer shade material from the closed position to the view position.

3. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to cause the motor to move the sheer shade material from the open position to the closed position such that a lower end of the first sheer fabric moves at a first speed, and to cause the motor to move the sheer shade material from the closed position to the view position such that the lower end of the first sheer fabric moves at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

4. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine a control limit corresponding to the closed position, based at least partially on a control limit corresponding to the view position and a distance through which the first sheer fabric is spaced from the second sheer fabric when the sheer shade material is in the view position.

5. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sheer fabrics are translucent and each of the plurality of vanes is opaque, and wherein the plurality of vanes are angularly offset relative to the first and second sheer fabrics when the sheer shade material is in the view position.

6. A motorized sheer shading system comprising:
a roller tube;
a sheer shade material that is windingly attached to the roller tube, the sheer shade material including a first sheer fabric, a second sheer fabric that is spaced from the first sheer fabric, and a plurality of vanes that are pivotally attached to the first and second sheer fabrics;
a motor that is operatively coupled to the roller tube; and
a remote control device that is associated with a control system, the remote control device comprising:
a first button that, when depressed, causes the motor to move the sheer shade material to an open position in which a portion of the sheer shade material is wound about the roller tube;
a second button that, when depressed, causes the motor to move the sheer shade material to a closed position in which the sheer shade material at least partially covers an opening and impedes visualization therethrough;
a third button that, when depressed, causes the motor to move the sheer shade material to a view position in which the sheer shade material at least partially covers the opening and permits visualization therethrough;
a fourth button that, when continuously depressed, causes the motor to continuously move the sheer shade material toward a first preset position while the button is depressed, wherein if the fourth button is still depressed when the sheer shade material reaches the first preset position the motor stops moving the sheer shade material; and
a fifth button that, when continuously depressed, causes the motor to continuously move the sheer shade material toward a second preset position while the button is depressed, wherein if the fifth button is still depressed when the sheer shade material reaches the second preset position, the motor stops moving the sheer shade material.

7. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 6 , further comprising:
the control system, wherein the control system is configured to cause the motor to rotate the roller tube at a first average rotational speed while moving the sheer shade material between the open position and the closed position by varying a rotational speed of the roller tube such that a lower end of the first sheer fabric moves at a constant first speed.

8. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 7 , wherein the control system is further configured to cause the motor to rotate the roller tube at a second average rotational speed that is slower than the first average rotational speed while moving the sheer shade material between the closed position and the view position by reducing the rotational speed of the roller tube such that the lower end of the first sheer fabric moves at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

9. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented horizontally relative to the first and second sheer fabrics when the sheer shade material is in the view position, and are oriented vertically relative to the first and second sheer fabrics when the sheer shade material is in the closed position.

10. The motorized sheer shading system of claim 8 , wherein the first average rotational speed of the roller tube is between about 40 revolutions per minute and about 50 revolutions per minute, and the second average rotational speed of the roller tube is between about 20 revolutions per minute and about 30 revolutions per minute.

11. A motorized sheer shading system comprising:
a roller tube;
a sheer shade material that is windingly attached to the roller tube, the sheer shade mate

Assignees

• Lutron Electronics Co

Inventors

• Blair Edward J
• Chambers Samuel F
• Lundy Stephen

Classifications

• E06B9/34

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

• E06B9/72

  comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller · CPC title

• E06B2009/6818

  using sensors · CPC title

• E06B9/24 Primary

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title

• E06B9/264 Primary

  Combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes; Lamellar blinds with special devices · CPC title