Apparatus, software and method for controlling the operation of a window covering

An apparatus for controlling the position of a blind comprising:

• a controller;
• and
• a computer readable medium, operably connected to the controller, further comprising:
• a detector program module which utilizes signals provided by a detector to determine at least one of the position, direction and rate of movement of a shaft from which a plurality of vanes extend, and the tilt orientation of at least one of the plurality of the vanes, and communicates at least one detector output signal indicative thereof;
• a receiver program module, which decodes received operating instructions, and outputs decoded signals;
• and
• a device controller module which receives and utilizes both the at least one detector output signal and the decoded signal to control the operation of at least one actuator, wherein the at least one actuator facilitates the rotation of the shaft.

A method for controlling at least one of the position, movement and tilt orientation of at least one vane element of a blind, comprising:

• receiving an input signal from a detector, the detector comprising an opto-coupler and a rotary interrupt, specifying an initial position and tilt orientation of at least one element of a blind;
• receiving an operating instruction from at least one user interface;
• determining when a hard stop event will occur;
• and
• controlling a position of the blind based on at least one of the detector input signal, the received operating instruction, and the hard stop event determination.