Other

Hall Labs LLC

Kevin Rees

David R Hall

Jerome Miles

Emily Brimhall

Austin Carlson

Davido Hyer

Clint Cook

Joe R Fox

Chris J Jones

Jedediah Knight

Seth J Myer

Ben D Taylor

Michael R Hall

Daniel Madsen

Joseph C Duncan

Aaron Myer

Klayton Erekson

A system for controlling one or more motorized windows. The motorized windows each have a processor, a network device and wireless transmitters enabling connection via a network. The network is controlled by one or more mobile devices which receive user input. The mobile devices wirelessly connect to a local area network (LAN) via a hub. One or more hubs are connected via the LAN. The motorized windows are networked via a personal area network (PAN). The hubs convert the LAN protocol to the PAN protocol. Sensors send sensor data along with real time weather data to the processor. The processor uses this sensor data to update charts and schedules in memory, then sends commands to the controller based on these updated charts and schedules according to user defined and factory set parameters. The system includes both local and cloud-based control.

Hub-based system for controlling automated windows

The invention is a motorized gearbox assembly. The motorized gearbox assembly includes a motor that drives an output shaft. The output shaft actuates a window covering by applying torque to a tilt rod of the window covering. The output shaft extends substantially an entire length of the motorized gearbox assembly. It also has a through-channel that extends substantially an entire length of the output shaft, so that the tilt rod can pass entirely through the motorized gearbox assembly. Because of this, the motorized gearbox assembly can be used for retrofitting blinds. In some embodiments, the motorized gearbox assembly has a diametrically polarized magnet driven by the output shaft, and a position encoder that measures the output shaft's position and number of rotations.

Retrofittable motorized gearbox assembly

The system includes a headrail, which includes a motor, a gearbox, and one or more tiltable slats. At least one slat includes sliding tracks. The system further includes one or more PV cells movably disposed within the sliding tracks. The PV cells slide in move along the tracks with regard to an amount of sunlight incident on the cells. Methods of operating a solar powered window covering are also disclosed. The methods generally include detecting a tilt of at least one window covering slat. The slat includes one or more PV cells disposed in sliding tracks in the slat, and the tilt indicates an amount of sunlight incident on the cells. The methods also include sliding the PV cells in the tracks with regard to the amount of sunlight incident on the cells.

Solar-powered window covering

A motorized window covering switching mechanism is described herein. The switching mechanism includes a deflectable arm and a pull cord. The deflectable arm is connected to a first contact, and the pull cord is connected to the deflectable arm such that, as the pull cord is tugged, the deflectable arm deflects to move the first contact toward a second contact, thereby converting gestures of the pull cord into electrical signals that control a motorized window covering. In some embodiments, cord gestures that deflect the deflectable arm include pull sequences, numbers of pulls, strength of pulls, or combinations thereof. Additionally, in some embodiments, a controller receives the cord gestures and translates the cord gestures into operational commands to control and operate a window covering gearbox assembly.

Pull cord switching mechanism for controlling a window covering

In various example embodiments, a low energy electric motor brake is described comprising one or more electronic switches that connect the input wires to an electric motor together, thus shorting out the motor and braking the motor. The electronic switches are separate from the control system, and provide the braking function. This alleviates the motor controllers and other system control units from providing the braking function to the motor. The electronic switches require minimal to no power in order to maintain the brake to the motor. The control unit may be placed in a low power or sleep mode while the electronic switches maintain the brake.

Low energy electric motor brake

An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. An encoder is provided to measure an angular position of the drum. A counter is provided to record a number of rotations of the drum. A locking mechanism automatically prevents rotation of the drum when the drum stops. Using this information, a processor may calculate an amount of line let out from the drum based on the number of rotations of the drum, the angular position of the drum, and a radius of the drum. In certain embodiments, the angular position and/or number of rotations is stored in non-volatile memory so that is can be recovered in the event of a power outage or other significant event.

Accurate position tracking for motorized lifting device

A system to reduce drafts in front of a window is described. The system includes a window covering and a motor and gearbox that adjust the window covering. The system also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a microcontroller networked to the motor and temperature sensors. The first temperature sensor is positioned above the window covering within a thermal convection zone of a window associated with the window covering, and the second temperature sensor is positioned below the window covering within the thermal convection zone. The microcontroller instructs the motor to adjust the window covering based on a temperature gradient from the first temperature sensor to the second temperature sensor.

Window covering and sensors to reduce convection

An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. In certain embodiments, the motor and transmission are substantially entirely contained within the drum. In the same or other embodiments, a bearing may provide support for both the transmission and the drum.

Compact motorized lifting device

An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A tracking module tracks an actual amount of line let out from the drum. A servo control unit receives the actual amount, compares the actual amount to a desired amount of line to let out from the drum, and generates an error signal reflecting a difference between the actual amount and the desired amount. A modulation module generates, from the error signal, a control signal to control the motor, thereby bringing the actual amount into better alignment with the desired amount.

Intelligent motorized lifting device

An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. Logistics electronics are mounted proximate a first end of the drum and power electronics are mounted proximate a second end of the drum. In general, the logistics electronics include lower power electronics that enable data processing as well as data and commands to be communicated to the apparatus from an external location. By contrast, the power electronics may include higher power electronics needed to receive power and drive the motor.

Motorized lifting device with isolated logistics and power electronics

An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.

Intelligent window blind adjustment

A method for calibrating an automated window covering includes electromechanically actuating a window covering and measuring electrical current required to actuate the window covering. The method further measures movement of the window covering, where such movement includes one or more of a change in position and velocity of the window covering. The method estimates a size (e.g., height, width, area, etc.) of the window covering and/or an amount of force required to actuate the window covering based on the measured electrical current and movement. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Calibration technique for automated window coverings

A system includes multiple lifting devices, where each lifting device includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A grouping module is provided to group the lifting devices for synchronized operation. A synchronization module monitors an amount of line that is drawn in or let out from each of the lifting devices and, based on the amount, adjusts operating parameters (e.g., position, speed, etc.) of one or more of the lifting devices in the group to substantially synchronize the amount of line drawn in or let out with other lifting devices in the group.

Synchronized motorized lifting devices for lifting shared loads

An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor and comprising an output shaft configured to actuate a window covering. A position encoder, directly driven by the output shaft, is configured to measure at least one of an angular position and a number of rotations of the output shaft. The angular position and number of rotations may be used to calculate an angular position of slats of a window blind and/or an amount a window covering is opened or closed. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

Motorized gearbox assembly having a direct-drive position encoder

An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A power sensor measures an amount of current drawn and/or voltage supplied to the motor as the motor applies torque to the line. A processor calculates an amount of weight that is attached to the line based on the amount of power consumed by the motor. Alternatively, if the motor is operated in generator mode, a current sensor may measure an amount of current generated by the motor and the processor may calculate an amount of weight that is attached to the line based at least partly on an amount of current that is generated by the motor.

Growing community of inventors

Herriman, UT, United States of America

Kevin Rees