US 9,546,515 B2Granted

Smart device position and orientation synchronization function

OwnerDavid R. Hall, Austin Benjamin Carlson +5inventors

InventorsDavid R. Hall, Austin Benjamin Carlson, Clint J. Cook, Kevin Dean Rees, Davido Loyal Hyer, Jerome Lee Miles, Emily Brimhall

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Abstract

A method in accordance with the invention includes prompting a user to align a mobile device with a geometric feature (e.g., a window sill, corner, etc.) of a window. The method further determines a position and orientation of the window using sensors of the mobile device. Based on the position and orientation of the window, the method determines a position of the sun over time relative to the window. The method automatically adjusts a window covering of the window to take into account the position of the sun over time. For example, the method may automatically tilt slats of a window blind or open or close a window covering to take into account the position of the sun over time. A corresponding system is also disclosed herein.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

at least one processor;
at least one memory device operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer instructions for execution on the at least one processor, the computer instructions causing the at least one processor to:
prompt a user to align a smart phone or tablet with a geometric feature of one or more windows;
determine a position and orientation of the one or more windows using sensors of the smart phone or tablet;
determine, based on the position and orientation, a position of the sun over time relative to the one or more windows and a facing direction of a camera in a window covering of the one or more windows;
program the window covering of the one or more windows to operate based on the position of the sun over time and the facing direction of the camera.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/682,989Filed 9 Apr 2015 · continuation
Priority: 8 Apr 2014
Published: US 2015/0284990 A18 Oct 2015
Granted: 17 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification46 codes

E06B 9/322
Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor: details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives
E06B 9/266
Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds: devices or accessories for making or mounting lamellar blinds or parts thereof
E06B 9/303
Liftable: with ladder-tape
E06B 9/307
With ladder-tape: details of tilting bars and their operation

Family

Application61/977,008Us provisional application · filed 8 Apr 2014
Application62/005,140Us provisional application · filed 30 May 2014
Application62/051,048Us provisional application · filed 16 Sep 2014
Application14/682,077Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 2015
Application14/682,085Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 2015
Application14/682,091Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 2015
Application14/682,100Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Apr 2015
Application14/682,104Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Apr 2015
Application14/682,108Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Apr 2015
Application14/682,110Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Apr 2015
US 2015/0284996 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Oct 2015
US 2015/0284990 A1Published application
US 2015/0284991 A1Published application
US 2015/0284992 A1Published application
US 2015/0284997 A1Published application
US 2015/0284998 A1Published application
US 2015/0285535 A1Published application
US 2015/0345218 A1Published application
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.