Apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling a covering for an architectural opening
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorsJames Baugh, Daniel Fluckey, Michael S. Holford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method associated with the extension and retraction of a covering for an architectural opening. More particularly, an apparatus and method which monitors the extension of a shade to control the extension and position when the extension motion of the shade is interrupted.
Claims20
A mechanism for indicating a position of a shade member moving in an extending direction comprising:
- a shade member movable between a retracted and an extended position;
- a motor drive;
- an actuation member operably associated with said shade member and responsive to said motor drive to cause the retraction and extension of said shade member;
- a drive mechanism operably positioned between said motor drive and said actuation member, said drive mechanism including a first magnet and a second magnet, said second magnet movable relative to said first magnet;
- and
- a control system operably associated with said motor drive, said control system monitoring a magnetic field generated by said first and second magnets and providing at least one control signal to said motor drive based on said magnetic field.
A method of detecting an obstruction or terminal position to an extension of a shade member comprising:
- providing a drive mechanism including a set of magnets having a first orientation relative to one another during the extension of the shade member;
- rotating one of said set of magnets relative to another of said set of magnets upon the shade member contacting the obstruction or reaching the terminal position;
- and
- monitoring a magnetic field generated by said set of magnets.
A mechanism for indicating the interruption of a shade member moving in an extending direction comprising:
- a shade member movable between a retracted and an extended position;
- a motor drive;
- an actuation member operably associated with said shade member and responsive to said motor drive to cause the retraction and extension of said shade member;
- a control system operably associated with said motor drive and including a magnetic sensor;
- a drive mechanism operably positioned between said motor drive and said actuation member, said drive mechanism including a first engagement member engaged with said motor drive and a second engagement member engaged with said actuation member, said first and second engagement members rotatable relative to one another between a first and a second orientations, wherein said first and second engagement members each include a magnet having a north and a south pole, wherein in said first orientation said north poles of each of said first and second engagement members are in proximity to one another and said south poles of each of said first and second engagement members are in proximity to one another;
- said magnetic sensor sensing said rotation of said drive mechanism when said first and second members are in said first orientation, and not sensing said rotation of said drive mechanism when said first and second members are in said second orientation;
- and
- said control system, upon said magnetic sensor not sensing said rotation, sending at least one control signal to said motor drive to interrupt said motor drive.
A method of detecting an obstruction or terminal position to an extension of a shade member comprising:
- upon downward motion of said shade member, sensing a magnetic field generated by a plurality of magnets associated with a drive mechanism;
- upon said downward motion being interrupted by the obstruction or by reaching the terminal position, no longer sensing said magnetic field;
- and
- upon no longer sensing said magnetic field, providing a control signal to a motor to arrest any further downward motion of said shade member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.