Method for operating a motorized shade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9745797-B2
Application number	US-201615166367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Feb 23, 2010
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

An architectural covering is provided. The architectural covering includes: shade material; the shade material operatively connected to a motor unit such that movement of the motor unit causes movement of the shade material; the motor unit comprising a DC motor and a shaft connected to the DC motor; a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor unit; a controller unit electrically connected to the motor unit, the controller unit having a microprocessor; and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the motor unit and upon detection of rotation of the motor unit transmit a signal to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor of the controller unit is configured to power an encoder unit in response to determination of manual movement of the shade material. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering may be provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An architectural covering, comprising:
shade material;
a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;
a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;
the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;
the controller unit having a microprocessor;
a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor;
wherein the power supply unit includes one or more batteries;
at least one sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor;
the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;
the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized, so as to conserve power; a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

2. The architectural covering of claim 1 , wherein the architectural covering is configured to switch to an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

3. The architectural covering of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

4. The architectural covering of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

5. The architectural covering of claim 1 , further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

6. The architectural covering of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to output pulses when the motor rotates, the microprocessor is configured to determine a position of the shade material from the pulses.

7. The architectural covering of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device.

8. The architectural covering of claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

9. The architectural covering of claim 1 , wherein the controller unit is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

10. An architectural covering comprising
shade material;
a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;
a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;
the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;
the controller unit having a microprocessor;
a power supply operatively connected to the motor and the controller unit;
a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering;
the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force;
at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller unit;
the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;
the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized, so as to conserve power.

11. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the architectural covering is configured to switch to an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

12. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

13. The architectural covering of claim 10 , further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

14. The architectural covering of claim 10 , further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor.

15. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to output pulses when the motor rotates, and the microprocessor is configured to determine a position of the shade material from the pulses.

16. The architectural covering of claim 10 , further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device.

17. The architectural covering of claim 10 , further comprising a wireless receiver operably connected to the controller unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to switch from an asleep state to the awake state upon reception of an appropriate wireless signal.

18. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the power supply is formed of a plurality of batteries.

19. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the motor is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

20. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the controller unit is positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

21. The architectural covering of claim 10 , wherein the motor and counterbalance assembly are positioned within a roller tube and the shade material is operably connected to the roller tube.

22. An architectural covering comprising:
shade material;
a motor operatively connected to the shade material such that operation of the motor causes movement of the shade material;
a controller unit operatively connected to the motor;
the controller unit configured to control operation of the motor;
the controller unit having a microprocessor;
a power supply operatively connected to the motor and the controller unit;
a wireless receiver operably connected to the microprocessor;
the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device;
at least one sensor operatively connected to the controller unit;
the at least one sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor;
the controller unit configured to switch between an awake state, wherein the at least one sensor is energized, and an asleep state, wherein the at least one sensor is not energized so as to conserve power; a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the architectural covering, the counterbalance assembly configured to provide a counterbalance force to the shade material.

23. The architectural covering of claim 22 , wherein the controller unit is configured to switch to an awake state wherein the at least one sensor is powered in response to detection of a manual movement of the shade material.

24. The architectural covering of claim 22 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one Hall Effect sensor.

25. The architectural covering of claim 22 , further comprising a magnet wheel operably connected to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the magnet wheel.

26. The architectural covering of claim 22 , further comprising at least one transistor connected to an electrical lead of the motor, wherein the at least one transistor is configured to detect a manual movement of the motor

Assignees

• Watt Stopper Inc

Inventors

• Mullet Willis Jay
• Brunk Darrin W
• Wysocynski Christopher Lee
• Asbury Harry Edward
• Hand Richard Scott
• Rodriguez Yan
• Bruckner Benjamin

Classifications

• E06B9/40

  Roller blinds (usable only as awnings E04F10/06) · CPC title

• E06B9/50

  Bearings specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• E06B9/62

  Counterweighting arrangements (E06B9/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E06B9/42 Primary

  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

• E06B2009/6845

  sensing position · CPC title