Force mapping for automated window mechanism

An automated window mechanism, comprising:

• a motor coupled to a moving component of a window and being configured to move the moving component relative to a window frame;
• an encoder coupled to the moving component of the window and being configured to monitor a position of the moving component relative to the frame along a path between a first end point and a second endpoint;
• a sensor configured to monitor at least one of current, voltage and velocity to thereby determine a force required of the motor to move the moving component along the path;
• a processor;
• and
• memory;
• a battery coupled to the motor and configured to power the motor, and wherein the acts further comprise:
• calculating a duty cycle for the motor according to the force map;
• and
• using the duty cycle to set a limit for the battery;
• wherein the sensor, the processor, and the memory work together to store one or more computer-readable instructions executable by the processor to perform acts comprising:
• monitoring at least one of current, voltage, and velocity of the motor to thereby determine a force required to move the moving component along the path;
• instructing the motor to move the moving component from the first end point to the second end point;
• monitoring the force as a function of position along the path between the first end point and the second end point;
• storing the force as a function of position as a force map;
• and
• if the force required to move the moving component deviates from the force map by more than a predetermined tolerance, taking at least one of the following actions:
• stopping the motor,
• reversing direction of the motor,
• alerting a user to the deviation.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a first endpoint and a second endpoint defining a movement path of a window relative to a window frame;
• moving the window along the movement path with a motor;
• monitoring a force exerted by the motor as a function of position of the window relative to the window frame;
• storing the force exerted by the motor as a function of position as a force map;
• in response to an instruction, moving the window along the movement path;
• while the motor moves the window along the movement path, monitoring a current force exerted by the motor;
• comparing the current force to the force map;
• and
• if the force deviates from the force map by more than a predetermined threshold, taking at least one of the following steps:
• stopping the motor,
• reversing direction of the motor, and
• alerting a user of the deviation.

An automated window mechanism, comprising:

• a mounting assembly coupled to a window, the window having a sliding component and a stationary component, the mounting assembly being coupled to one of the sliding component and the stationary component;
• a motor in the mounting assembly;
• a driveshaft coupled to the motor;
• a gear coupled to the driveshaft;
• a rack coupled to the other of the sliding component and the stationary component, wherein the motor drives the driveshaft and gear to move along the rack to move the sliding component along a movement path;
• a force measuring component coupled to one of the motor, driveshaft, and gear and being configured to monitor a force exerted by the motor;
• a memory configured to store a force map defined as the force exerted by the motor as a function of position along the movement path;
• and
• a comparison module configured to compare current force exerted by the motor during operation of the motor to the force map;
• wherein the motor either stop, reverse direction or alert a user if the comparison module identifies a deviation from the force map greater than a predetermined threshold.