US 12,215,546 B2 · External motor drive system adjusting for creep in window covering system with continuous cord loop

Abstract

A drive system for raising and lowering a window covering includes a motor, a driven wheel configured to engage a continuous cord loop, a controller for the motor, a sensor, and a housing. The continuous cord loop includes an endless loop of flexible material and one or more sensor targets disposed on the endless loop of flexible material. The housing supports a guide rail adjacent the driven wheel. The sensor is mounted to the guide rail and is configured to generate a signal indicating presence of each sensor target when the target is located in proximity to or in contact with the sensor. The controller is calibrated to store an initial position of each sensor target along the continuous cord loop, and is configured to receive the signal indicating presence of the sensor target and to identify a drift from the initial position during continuing operation of the drive system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A drive system for use with a window covering system, the window covering system including a mechanism for raising and lowering a window covering and a continuous cord loop extending below the mechanism;

the drive system comprising:
a motor configured to operate under electrical power to rotate an output shaft of the motor;
a driven wheel coupled to the output shaft of the motor and configured to engage the continuous cord loop, wherein rotation of the driven wheel in a first direction is configured to cause the continuous cord loop to cause the mechanism to raise the window covering and rotation of the driven wheel in a second direction is configured to advance the continuous cord loop to cause the mechanism to lower the window covering;
one or more sensor targets configured to be disposed on the continuous cord loop;
a controller for the motor;
and
a sensor operatively connected to the controller and configured to generate a signal indicating presence of each of the one or more sensor targets when the sensor target is located in proximity to or in contact with the sensor.

4 more elements

A drive system for use with a window covering system, the window covering system including a roller blind mechanism for raising and lowering a window covering fabric and a continuous cord loop extending below the mechanism;

the drive system comprising:
a motor configured to operate under electrical power to rotate an output shaft of the motor;
a driven wheel coupled to the output shaft of the motor and configured to engage the continuous cord loop;
one or more sensor targets configured to be disposed on the continuous cord loop;
a controller for the motor;
and
a sensor operatively connected to the controller and is configured to generate a signal indicating presence of each of the one or more sensor targets when the sensor target is located in proximity to or in contact with the sensor,
wherein the controller is calibrated to store a position of each of the one or more sensor targets and is configured to receive the signal indicating presence of each of the one or more sensor targets and to identify a drift from the respective position during continuing operation of the drive system.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

External motor drive system adjusting for creep in window covering system with continuous cord loop

Life of this patent

External motor drive system adjusting for creep in window covering system with continuous cord loop

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20