EP1486640B1 - Blind with adjustable slats - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of solar protections and in particular to a motorized steerable blind device comprising a command transmitter and an order receiver linked to the motorized blind, the command transmitter comprising a first control interface and a second command interface.

Indoor or outdoor Venetian blinds, or vertical curtain blinds involve particular control constraints compared to other solar protections such as screens, blinds, shutters. Indeed, the control of these first must take into account, on the one hand, the longitudinal displacement, along the height or the width of a window or a door, and, on the other hand, of the angular orientation of the blades. These sunscreens require special arrangements to be motorized.

Among the sunblinds with adjustable blades, solar protection with dual control and sun protection single-command.

In the example of a non-motorized interior venetian blind, the dual-controlled solar protectors are controlled, on the one hand, by a cord for raising and lowering the blind and, on the other hand, by a rod mounted the other side of the blind, to adjust the orientation of the blades. This last command can be provided by other systems than a rod, such as rotary knobs, knobs or sliders with magnets (especially for the case of blinds mounted between two windows), which allow to operate, to using a cable or rod, rotating the blades. A device of this type is for example disclosed in the Australian patent application AU 200072376 .

These blade orientation adjustment systems are intended to provide a short angular displacement and are not suitable for adjusting the height of a blind or the movement of a curtain. They allow on the other hand, a rather intuitive adjustment, adapted to ergonomics for the user.

In the case of single-control solar protections, a single control means actuates the orientation and translation of the blades.

To adjust the orientation of the blades from an intermediate stopping position during the raising or lowering of a blind, simply order the blind in the opposite direction of the previous one. Mono-control sunscreens can be motorized more easily than dual-controlled sunscreens. An actuator, placed in the support rail of the sun protection and generally provided with a cord winder or strap, actuates the cord supporting the blades so as to orient and / or move them. This is called a mono-motor blind.

Dual control blinds generally require a double motorization. They will be called bi-engines.

It is not always very easy to obtain the desired orientation of the blades between the two closed positions.

This is because the rotation speed of the motor for the orientation of the blades is the same as that used for the rise or fall of the blind in the case of a single-engine. The speed must be high enough so that the rise or fall time of the awning is sufficiently reduced. If, during a blade orientation command, the angular orientation of the blades is exceeded, it is necessary to activate the motor in the opposite direction to reach the desired position. Because of the speed of rotation of the motor, the desired precise orientation is difficult to control the first shot.

Thus, although the control of a solar protection with adjustable blades is possible with a conventional device used for other types of sun protection or other closures of the habitat, it is difficult.

In motorized blind systems, it has traditionally used command transmitters with one or more keys for controlling the movement and orientation of the blades in different ergonomics.

For example, a 5-position bipolar inverter includes a rocking element about an axis. An accentuated press on one of the up or down keys locks the element in a fixed position and causes a command of continuous activation of the actuator in the direction controlled by this key until the end position in the direction given by the key. Thus, the blind is actuated in translation (up or down). Conversely, a light support is interpreted as a momentary order that stops as soon as the element is released. This light support allows to control the orientation of the blades.

This ergonomics is intuitive insofar as the lightest support is the one that causes the smallest displacement and the user is active during the orientation of the blades. On the other hand, this configuration does not make it possible to distinguish the different commands and the inverter is not adapted for the control of two-motor blinds.

A second example of an order transmitter keyboard known from the patent application EP 0 273 719 includes besides up and down keys, separate keys for controlling the orientation of the blades clockwise and counterclockwise. The keys are then generally aligned. Even if basically, the kinematics of orientation of the blades is obtained from an activation of the blade translation motor, the user does not notice it.

This key alignment suggests that the additional keys compared to the conventional up or down keys correspond to intermediate positions. This type of transmitter does not offer any advantage in terms of ergonomics.

In addition, the patent is known US 4,492,908 , a device for controlling the orientation of the blades of a venetian blind comprising a potentiometer. The orientation of the blades is directly controlled according to the rotation applied to the potentiometer. The orientation command is not really intuitive in that it uses a correspondence with physical quantities. Its essential purpose is to make it possible to correct the differences between different blinds of the same group controlled simultaneously to ensure consistency and a uniform aesthetic appearance. In addition, such a control device is complicated and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a control in the context of a blind device with steerable blades overcomes the disadvantages mentioned and improving the known devices of the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a device with adjustable blades that is simple, inexpensive, and versatile (adapted to different types of motorization of blinds) and whose ergonomics of orientation of the blades is intuitive.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1.

Different embodiments of the device are defined by dependent claims 2 to 12.

The attached drawing shows, by way of example, several embodiments of a blind device with adjustable blades according to the invention.

The figure 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment of the blind device according to the invention.

The figure 2a is a detailed view of a first embodiment of a manipulable element of the second control interface.

The figure 2b is a detailed view of a second embodiment of a manipulable element of the second control interface.

The figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the blind device according to the invention.

The figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a third embodiment of the blind device according to the invention.

The Figures 5 to 7 are detailed views of a manipulable element of the control interface according to alternative embodiments.

The Figures 8 to 11 are tables explaining the relationships between control interfaces, electrical contacts and reactions of the actuator (s) in different embodiments.

The device 1 of motorized slatted blinds shown in FIG. figure 1 comprises a command transmitter 2 provided with a first control interface 2a and a second control interface 2b, a command receiver 6 linked to a mechanical assembly 4 comprising horizontal blades 5 which are orientable about their axis, a motor 3 of orientation of the blades and a motor 3 'of vertical displacement of the blades.

The first control interface 2a shown in FIG. figure 2a comprises three control buttons 11, 12 and 13. The buttons 11 and 12 allow, in a conventional manner, respectively to control the raising and lowering of the blind by activating the motor 3 '. The button 13 makes it possible to deactivate the motor 3 'to stop the raising or lowering movement of the blind.

The command transmitter 2 further has on one of its lateral faces a second control interface 2b comprising a wheel 14. This wheel, shown in FIG. figure 2a , it is rotatable relative to the face of the command transmitter 2 about an axis 15. It has on its circumference a boss 19 which allows to actuate the electrical contacts 20a or 20b according to the direction of movement of the wheel. When the user turns the knob 14 clockwise S1, the boss 19 acts on the portion 17a of the contact 20a to bring it into contact with its portion 18a and thus close the contact 20a. When the user turns the knob 14 in the trigonometrical direction S2, the boss 19 acts on the portion 17b of the contact 20b to bring it into contact with its portion 18b and thus close the contact 20b. The wheel 14 is movable between its two extreme positions in which the boss 19 abuts against a pin 16a, respectively against a pin 16b. Alternatively, the contacts 20a and 20b can themselves serve as stops. The two electrical contacts allow the supply of the electric drive motor of the awning in two different directions.

The wheel optionally has a shape 22 such that a heart cam portion cooperating with a spring blade 23 acting on it to bring the wheel back to a position in which none of the contacts 20a, 20b is activated. This embodiment can be replaced by a system comprising one or more spiral springs restoring position.

The wheel can be replaced as shown in figure 5 by another element such as a slider 14 'movable between two stops 16'a and 16'b in a groove formed in the control interface 2.

One or more helical springs of low rigidity then allow to return the cursor to its central rest position, in which the contacts 20a or 20b are not actuated.

The advantage related to the forms of realization of the type wheel or slider, is their mode of actuation: indeed, to bring the element in position of end of race, the user must drag and accompany the movement of the element . This is particularly intuitive for controlling the orientation of the blades in that the movement is slow and monitored by the user, throughout the blade orientation maneuver.

In alternative embodiments, the wheel or the slider may remain in their end-of-stroke positions actuating the contacts 20a and 20b or the contacts themselves may remain in their closed position.

In these cases, in addition to the angular actuation of the wheel or the actuation in translation of the cursor, these elements can also be actuated in a second direction D2 for example perpendicular to the first direction of displacement D1 described above. The element then returns to an intermediate position between its two end positions in which the contacts 20a and 20b are not actuated or the contacts return to their open position.

In a second embodiment shown in figure 2b , the displacement of the wheel 43 may also not be limited by two end positions, but the wheel may have a rotary movement without stop. Each movement of the wheel by a certain angle of rotation (defining a step of movement of the wheel) in one direction, actuates an electrical contact. The actuation of this contact relatively causes the displacement of a step of the actuator (rotation angle or power supply time, for example, defined at the actuator) in the direction corresponding to that of the movement of the wheel.

It is possible to transmit a control signal for each movement of a step of the wheel, but preferably, the number of movement steps is counted until the immobilization of the wheel. Then only, a control signal containing the number of steps counted is transmitted.

The electrical contacts 40a, 40b can be actuated by teeth 44 arranged on the wheel 43 by means of a lever articulated about an axis 42.

The Figures 6 and 7 represent embodiments of order issuers in which the wheel is disposed on the front face of the order transmitter. On the figure 6 , the wheel rotates around a horizontal axis and, on the figure 7 , the wheel rotates around a vertical axis.

The actuation of the contacts 20a and 20b makes it possible to define a motor rotation control order in one direction or the other, as shown schematically in FIG. figure 3 . An action A1 of the user on the wheel 14 in the clockwise direction S1 closes the contact 20a, an action A2 in the trigonometric direction S2 closes the contact 20b. The contacts are connected to interpretation means X which make it possible to differentiate the translation orders from the orders of rotation. The interpretation means X then make it possible to transmit the orders directly to the corresponding actuator or actuators.

This differentiation is important, since it makes it possible to control a blind with two motors as well as a single-engine blind, possibly reducing the speed of rotation of the latter for the orientation of the blades.

The means of interpretation are generally composed of a microprocessor which makes it possible to analyze both the actuation of the electrical contacts and possibly their actuation time. The means of interpretation also include a memory. Depending on the different contacts and / or the activation time of these contacts, the means of interpretation can determine whether it is a question of translation order of the blades that the user wishes to issue or an order of orientation.

The control buttons 11, 12, 13 for controlling the raising and lowering of the blind can actuate contacts 21a and 21b separate contacts 20a and 20b. The different contacts then serve to differentiate the actions on the first interface or on the second interface, respectively corresponding to translation and orientation orders of the blades.

They can also operate only the same contacts 20a and 20b as the wheel 14. In this case, other means are provided to differentiate the translation and orientation orders of the blades.

For example, the second interface comprises a third electrical contact 20c linked to the wheel. This third contact 20c is actuable either by pressing on the wheel 14 in the second direction D2, or by moving out of the rest position by manipulation of the wheel 14. This embodiment is shown schematically in FIG. figure 4 . The contact 20c is connected to the interpretation means X via a module 7 of reduced speed order.

Thus, the commands caused by manipulation of the wheel contain information about the speed of the actuator, useful in the case of a single-engine blind.

The electrical contact 20c makes it possible to differentiate the commands entered via the first interface from those entered by the second interface.

This electrical contact 20c may also have a control function for stopping the rotation of the actuator and thus the up or down movement or rotation. When actuated while the engine is stopped, it may be the cause of an intermediate position function.

Alternatively or in combination, the activation time of the control interfaces can be used to differentiate the translation or orientation orders. In this case, the interpretation means X comprise differentiation means 26 of the commands comprising an activation time detector 24 of the control interfaces and a comparator 25 for comparing the activation time with one or more threshold values implemented. memory at the level of means of interpretation X.

Thus, even independently of the electrical contacts of the two interfaces, a brief pulse action on the first interface 2a can be interpreted by the interpretation means X as a translation drive of the blades, while a sustained action or short duration on the second interface 2b is interpreted as a blade orientation command. Similarly, it is conceivable to also allow the translation control (for example at high speed) from a manipulation of the wheel 14.

Each contact actuation can generate a control command that the actuator interprets as a rotation of a defined step, whether or not the second interface 2b has stops.

Different variants and results of the manipulations of the two control interfaces 2a and 2b are summarized in the tables of the Figures 8 to 11 .

The figure 8 illustrates the results of the actions exerted on the different keys of the control interfaces, in the case where the first control interface comprises electrical contacts 21a, 21b and the second control interface comprises electrical contacts 20a, 20b.

The table of the figure 9 illustrates the results of the actions on the control interfaces, when the two interfaces are connected to the same electrical contacts, and the differentiation is performed by measuring the actuation time of these interfaces. This time is compared to a certain threshold stored (at the level of interpretation means X). The result of the comparison makes it possible to differentiate the translation and orientation orders.

The table of the figure 10 illustrates the results of the actions on the control interfaces, when the two interfaces are connected to the same electrical contacts and when the interpretation means X comprise a third electrical contact 20c actuated as soon as the wheel is actuated in a direction S1 or S2, by example a normally open contact in the rest position. This third contact makes it possible to differentiate the orientation orders and to couple them with an order of reduction of the speed of the actuator if it is a single-engine device.

The table of the figure 11 illustrates the results of the actions on the control interfaces, when the two interfaces are connected to the same electrical contacts and when the interpretation means X comprise a third electrical contact 20c actuated as soon as the wheel is actuated in a second direction distinct from the first (for example, by pressing the wheel).

Simultaneous action by pressing and moving the wheel distinguishes the control commands. A displacement without support of the wheel corresponds to an actuation on the first control interface in the corresponding direction.

The control interface may be a wired remote control as described above, but it may also consist of a wireless portable remote control communicating for example by means of radio waves or infrared with a power supply device of the engine.

In this case, the various actions exerted on the various control buttons, sliders or knobs are translated into the control interface by an electronic device into an electromagnetic signal.

The interpretation of the control commands can be made either at the control interface or at the level of the engine power supply device, that is to say, the means of interpretation are located at the transmitter order or at the level of the order receiver.

In the first case, the interpretation means X differentiate the commands given by the user by action on one or the other of the control interfaces 2a, 2b, and the command transmitter 2 directly transmits a command of control towards the command receiver 6 of the actuator 3 or 3 'concerned.

In the second case, the command transmitter 2 transmits a set of data (for example one or more activated contact identifiers, an actuation duration) to the command receiver 6 equipped with the interpretation means X. These data are then analyzed by means interpretation X which determine the order to give the actuator 3, 3 'concerned.

In the case of a single motor, it is possible to couple the interpretation means with a command module for reducing the speed of the actuator. Thus, the blade orientation commands can be performed at low speed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the interpretation means X directly cause a fast rotation control of the actuator as soon as they detect a translation drive of the blades, while they cause a rotation control at a slow speed of rotation. the actuator if they detect a blade orientation command, this slow speed command being maintained as long as the control interface is actuated, or at least for a time equal to the time required for the blades to tilt from an extreme position to the other extreme position, if the control interface is operated for a longer time.

The device according to the invention can obviously be applied to any type of awning or curtain with adjustable blades.

Claims (15)

1. Motorized blind (4) device (1) with orientable slats (5) comprising an orders transmitter (2) and an orders receiver (6) which is attached to the motorized blind, the orders transmitter (2) comprising a first control interface (2a) and a second control interface (2b), which device (1) comprises means of interpretation (X) for differentiating between the orders to translate and to orient the slats on the basis of the actions performed on the two control interfaces, in which the second control interface (2b) comprises an element (14; 14'; 43) that can be moved in two opposite senses (S1, S2) along substantially one and the same first direction (D1) and in which two electric contacts (20a, 20b; 40a, 40b) are respectively actuatable by movement of the element (14; 14'; 43) in the first sense (S1) and in the second sense (S2).
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is a thumbwheel (43) mounted moveable in rotation and comprising teeth (44) and wherein the contacts (40a, 40b) are actuated by the teeth of the thumbwheel.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is a thumbwheel mounted moveable in rotation, the rotating movement having no end of travel, each displacement of the thumbwheel of a certain angle (defining a displacement step of the thumbwheel) in a direction, actuating an electric contact causing the displacement of a step of the actuator in the direction corresponding to that of the movement of the thumbwheel.
4. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein it transmits a control signal comprising the number of displacement steps counted until the thumbwheel is stopped.
5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein it transmits a control signal for each displacement step of the thumbwheel.
6. The device as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein teeth are on the thumbwheel for actuating electric contacts.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is mounted moveable between two stops (16a, 16b) and wherein the contacts (20a, 20b) are actuated at the level of the limits of travel of the element (14, 14'), the element being a thumbwheel (14) or a slider (14').
8. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, which device comprising a third electric contact (20c) actuatable by manipulation of the element in a second direction (D2) substantially perpendicular to the first direction (D1).
9. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the means of interpretation comprise means (26) for differentiating between translation and orientation orders as a function of the actuation of the third electric contact (20c).
10. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the means of interpretation comprise means (26) for differentiating between translation and orientation orders as a function of the control interface actuated and/or as a function of the duration of actuation of the control interfaces or electric contacts.
11. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the means of interpretation (X) are included at least partially at the level of the orders transmitter (2) or of the orders receiver (6).
12. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, which device comprises a single actuator (3) for the translation and orientation of the slats.
13. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the means of interpretation are coupled with a module (7) for ordering a reduction in the speed of the actuator (3).
14. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a wireless portable remote control comprising various control buttons, sliders or thumbwheels, the various actions exerted on the various control buttons, sliders or thumbwheels being converted in a control interface by an electronic device into an electromagnetic signal.
15. The device as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein it comprises an actuator able to interpret a control command as a rotation of a defined step.

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