Programmable window blind assembly

Details Programmable window blind assembly Programmable window blind assembly

1999-02-26

2001-09-04

Johnson, Blair M. (Department: 3634)

Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel

Pleating type

With power operating means

C160S16810P

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283190

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a window blind assembly, more particularly to a programmable motor-incorporating window blind assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional motor-incorporating window blind assembly, mechanical positioning devices, such as limit switches, are employed in order to stop operation of a motor drive unit when a blind unit of the assembly is in a fully retracted or fully extended position. However, when manufacturing a window blind assembly having a blind unit with new dimensions, the locations of the mechanical positioning devices must be adjusted to suit the new dimensions of the blind unit. This inconveniences the manufacturing process, results in lower production efficiency, and does not allow for the consumer to make the adjustments on his own.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a programmable motor-incorporating window blind assembly to facilitate the manufacturing process, increase production efficiency, allow the consumer to make the adjustments on his own, and prolong the service life of the assembly.
According to the present invention, a programmable window blind assembly comprises:
a window blind device including a top housing, a blind unit, and a pull cord unit connected operably to the blind unit for moving the blind unit between a fully retracted position and an extended position relative to the top housing;
a motor drive unit including a bi-directional motor that has a drive shaft coupled to the pull cord unit such that rotation of the drive shaft can result in movement of the blind unit between the fully retracted position and the extended position; and
a controller including
a sensor unit associated operably with the drive shaft of the motor, the sensor unit generating motor rotation signals for indicating angular speed and angular displacement of the drive shaft,
a programmable data storage device for storing fully retracted blind position information and extended blind position information therein, and
a processor connected to the sensor unit, the programmable data storage device and the motor, the processor controlling the motor to operate in a first direction for moving the blind unit to the fully retracted position and in a second direction for moving the blind unit to the extended position,
wherein the processor is operable in a normal operating mode, where the processor terminates operation of the motor in the first direction upon determining that the blind unit has reached the fully retracted position based on the position information stored in the programmable data storage device and the motor rotation signals from the sensor unit, and where the processor terminates operation of the motor in the second direction upon determining that the blind unit has reached the extended position based on the position information stored in the programmable data storage device and the motor rotation signals from the sensor unit.
In the preferred embodiment, the processor is further operable in a blind position-learning mode, where the processor determines the fully retracted blind position information by operating the motor in the first direction to move the blind unit from a fully extended position toward the fully retracted position, and by monitoring the motor rotation signals from the sensor unit to determine if the blind unit has reached the fully retracted position, and where the processor stores the fully retracted blind position information determined thereby in the data storage device.
In a case where the extended position of the blind unit is a user-defined extended position, when the processor is operated in the blind position-learning mode, the processor further determines the extended blind position information by operating the motor in the second direction to move the blind unit away from the fully retracted positions by monitoring user-provided external control signals to determine if the blind unit has reached the user-defined extended position, and by monitoring the motor rotation signals from the sensor unit during movement of the blind unit from the fully retracted position to the user-defined extended position. The processor further stores the extended blind position information determined thereby in the data storage device.


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