EP1041238A1 - Diagnostic process and testing device for testing the functioning of at least a motorised closing system, like a roller shutter or comparable - Google Patents

Abstract

The motorized closure function diagnosis technique for rolling shutters has a memory (6) which records functions of the processing unit (7) driving the motor (3) which can occur if there are faults. The processing unit is connected (8) to a test tool (9) to investigate faults, and reads the digital word contents in the memory. Internal or external processing then transmits clear information on the exact nature of the fault detected.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing operation of at least one motorized closure system, such than a rolling shutter or the like.

The invention also relates to a test tool for setting of the process.

It is more and more common to motorize closing, in particular the shutters of a dwelling, this, of course, for convenience, but also in view increased security.

However, such an engine, compared to a manual solution, can cause malfunctions level of the locking system which it can be difficult, for moment to determine the cause.

In particular, when, for example, a roller shutter does not no longer responds to a close or open command this may may be due to a mechanical, electrical, or electronic problem.

Many of these motorized roller shutters are currently subject to remote control, by via radio or infrared remote control. In this case, a closing or opening order made by the user through the control unit may not not be transmitted to the roller shutter for various reasons, by example due to an environment polluted by waves parasites or more simply because the power stack of the transmitter is discharged. It may also be that the case of command does not work or that the receiver at the level roller shutter is faulty.

The origin of the fault can also come from the engine to which is usually associated with thermal safety which function, specifically, to control the power cut electric motor if the motor overheats. It is again, this thermal safety may be faulty.

Similarly, some of these motorized roller shutters are equipped obstacle detection devices having for function, in particular, during the closing operation of the rolling shutter to ensure the engine stops in case, on the trajectory of this roller shutter, came to present a any obstacle. Again, such sensors, being essentially electrical components are susceptible to cause a non-functioning of the roller shutter.

Finally, the failure may be mechanical, but understands, in view of the foregoing explanations that it is necessary, before we come to dismantle the mechanism of the shutter rolling, that we are able to determine its origin, by particular, if it results from an electrical failure and / or electronic.

In a home with more than one of these motorized closing, such as roller shutters, it's pretty frequent to have, also control means offering the possibility for the user to simultaneously control the closure or the opening of a group or a sub-group of roller shutters. It is understood, under these conditions, that in case of malfunction there is still reason to check that an order transmitted by the central command ends well in each of the roller shutters planned to be ordered.

In such a configuration and to avoid a user, after the transmission of a group order, having to individually check that each roller shutter has executed the transmitted order, it is still expected that these components are able to transmit, at the command level central, a signal allowing the user to know, from the place where the order was issued, if all the roller shutters are, for example, suitably closed.

Again this transmission can be done either by air infrared or similar hertzians, or by wire. In particular in this case there are cases where it is uses carrier current technology. It is, in done, transmit order orders or information from one place to another via the network house electrical supply.

In particular, installations have been devised where each roller shutter is capable of being controlled, individually, from its own control unit, the transmission being of the non-wired type, that is to say that the control box is in the form of a transmitter likely to communicate with a receiver associated with each roller shutters. In addition, from each of these boxes command, it is possible, through an instruction of appropriate command, to command, simultaneously, a group or a subgroup of roller shutters. In this particular case, the control unit at which the user acts, transmits first of all its order with the rolling shutter with which it is associated which roller shutter interprets this order as a command grouped and transmits, in particular by carrier current, this order other roller shutters covered by the order.

Finally, once the order, for example closing, is executed by these other roller shutters, these retransmit a good performance information to the roller shutter which gave them transmitted this order. This coming by closing itself to this moment comes to inform the user that the other roller shutters have carried out the order and are closed. If, on the contrary, roller shutter, with which the control box is associated through which the user transmitted an instruction group closing, does not close, this user is informed that a problem occurred on at least one of the aspects rolling.

It is easy to understand that in such a situation a malfunction may still be related to a problem of transmission between the roller shutters by carrier current and that if the last roller shutter does not close the causes can be multiple and diverse.

Obviously, we already know many home automation systems with more or less functionality important but which do not apply procedures for the purpose of determining the origin of a fault of an appliance before it is dismantled.

Thus, it is known from document EP-A-0 874 343 a system home automation consisting in equipping each device can be ordered in a home of a transceiver which can be operated by a screen remote control. More particularly, when this remote control is oriented in direction of a device and that a button is pressed defined command, the transceiver device of this device transmits an identification signal in the direction of said remote control resulting in the display at the screen of this one of the various functionalities likely to be ordered. Then, by acting at the level of the remote control on either arrow, the user can select the function on which he wishes intervene.

Note that the devices are connected to each other by a line bus through which the remote control can still apply to equipment which is not within its reception. Specifically, in each of the pieces of the home, and on this bus network, a device is connected transceiver which is necessarily within reach of the remote control when it is in said room. In these conditions, the user controls himself, on the screen of its remote control, displaying the functionality of the device on which it wishes to intervene. Then, once the selection made it transmits, through the remote control, command order to the transceiver device from the room where it is located, this device coming, in turn, retransmit the order to the target device through the bus line.

It is also known from document EP-A-0 513 443 another home automation management system consisting in connecting, through of a bus line, all the electrical appliances of a house capable of being managed from a central PC. he there is also a remote control capable of operating directly, by an appropriate transmission system, on remote-controlled devices. Under these conditions, the unit central can be informed of their change of state, either by through the remote control, either by communicating, wired or using a transceiver system, with these different devices suitable for remote control.

Obviously, such home automation management systems prove to be unsuitable for responding to the problem posed.

The present invention is therefore intended to be able to meet this need to identify the origin of a malfunction of a motorized locking system through a particularly efficient diagnostic process and, above all, easy and quick to use.

In this regard, the invention also relates to a test tool for the implementation of this process capable of immediately informing an operator, for example, an after-sales service technician the origin of a failure.

In a more elaborate conception of this tool, it can be connected, via a modem, to a network of telecommunications to authorize intervention by remote maintenance.

In fact, in this specific case and in the event of a breakdown, an after-sales service is able to know, even before having moved, the origin of this failure, therefore the nature of the parts to be changed and the qualification of the personnel to be dispatched for the repair. Taking into account that a breakdown can come from a simple error of the user, or even a simple power supply problem, this can be detected by remote maintenance and avoids that intervention teams do not move unnecessarily.

• à enregistrer, sous forme codée électroniquement, au niveau d'une mémoire d'unité de gestion du fonctionnement du moteur dudit système, un ou plusieurs événements au fonctionnement ou non fonctionnement du moteur, le cas échéant à l'aide de capteurs appropriés ;
• à raccorder à ladite unité de gestion, par l'intermédiaire de moyens de raccordement filaires ou non, un outil de test apte à lire le contenu des données stockées en mémoire ;
• à procéder à l'interprétation des données recueillies au travers d'une unité de traitement interne ou externe à l'outil de test afin d'émettre une information claire sur la nature du ou des défauts détectés.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for diagnosing the operation of at least one motorized closing system consisting of:

• recording, in electronically coded form, at the level of a memory of the engine operation management unit of said system, one or more events when the engine is running or not working, if necessary using appropriate sensors;
• to connect to said management unit, via wired or non-wired connection means, a test tool capable of reading the content of the data stored in memory;
• to interpret the data collected through a processing unit internal or external to the test tool in order to issue clear information on the nature of the fault or faults detected.

• des moyens de raccordement filaire ou non à une unité de gestion de fonctionnement dudit système de fermeture ;
• des moyens de lecture et d'enregistrement du contenu de la mémoire de cette unité de gestion ;
• une unité de traitement des données recueillies ;
• des moyens d'affichage des résultats émis par ladite unité de traitement sous forme d'identification du ou des défauts détectés.

As for the test tool for implementing the method, it includes:

• means for wired or not connection to an operation management unit of said closure system;
• means for reading and recording the content of the memory of this management unit;
• a unit for processing the data collected;
• means for displaying the results emitted by said processing unit in the form of identification of the fault or faults detected.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following description relating to a example of realization.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématisée d'un système de fermeture motorisé, en particulier un volet roulant autorisant la mise en oeuvre du procédé de diagnostic conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente, de manière schématisée, une installation comportant plusieurs de ces systèmes de fermeture motorisés ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation schématisée d'un exemple de réalisation d'un outil de test, plus particulièrement adapté pour tester une installation telle que représentée dans la figure 2.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated in view of the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a motorized closure system, in particular a rolling shutter authorizing the implementation of the diagnostic method according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows, schematically, an installation comprising several of these motorized closure systems;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a test tool, more particularly suitable for testing an installation as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this invention relates to the field of motorized locking systems more particularly intended for building. So these systems have been shown, indicatively in the form of sections rolling 1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D with which is associated, individually, a control unit 2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D. The link between this control unit on which is intended to intervene the user and the corresponding roller shutter can be of the wired type or can be insured, as is done usually by radio, infrared or similar transmission.

It is obvious that the malfunction of such a roller shutter 1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D can have different origins and, in particular, it may be related to electrical problems or electronic in the management of the operation of the motor 3. In particular to such electric motors 3 is usually associated with thermal safety 4 which can be, it alone, causing the failure. Likewise, these components rolling 1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are often fitted with a sensor 5 associated obstacle detection, i.e. the last blade of the apron, or a side slide. This sensor, if it is defective, can also prevent the operation of this roller shutter. But the problems can be related to a simple power cut, at this roller shutter or the control unit often operating using of a pile.

• à enregistrer sous forme codée électroniquement, au niveau d'une mémoire 6 d'une unité de gestion 7 du fonctionnement du moteur 3 dudit système 1 ; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, un ou plusieurs événements liés au fonctionnement dudit moteur 3, le cas échéant au travers de capteurs appropriés ;
• à raccorder à ladite unité de gestion 7 par l'intermédiaire de moyens de raccordement 8 filaires ou non, un outil de test 9 apte à lire le contenu des données stockées en mémoire 6 ;
• et, en fin de compte, à interpréter les données recueillies au travers d'une unité de traitement interne ou externe à l'outil de test afin d'émettre une information claire pour un opérateur sur la nature du ou des défauts détectés.

Also, according to the invention, a method for diagnosing the operation of at least one of these motorized closure systems has been devised, consisting of:

• to be recorded in electronically coded form at a memory 6 of a management unit 7 for the operation of the engine 3 of said system 1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, one or more events related to the operation of said motor 3, if necessary through appropriate sensors;
• connecting to said management unit 7 via connection means 8 wired or not, a test tool 9 capable of reading the content of the data stored in memory 6;
• and, ultimately, to interpret the data collected through a processing unit internal or external to the test tool in order to issue clear information for an operator on the nature of the fault or faults detected.

The memory 6 of a management unit 7 can be subdivided into as many fault counters as desired. In particular, it can be saved in electronically encoded form on number of times engine 3 has been operated interrupted under the influence of thermal safety 4 or a obstacle presence sensor 5, or even the number of times that engine 3 was simply stopped via the limit switches.

Likewise it can be saved in memory 6, any parameter capable of giving an indication of the conditions of operation of this engine 3, in particular if one of its windings is faulty or not.

The memory 6 can also be provided capable of recording the various events relating to the transmission of an order in from the control unit 2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D.

The diagnostic method according to the invention also provides for a step of connecting the test tool 9, so wired or not wired, said control box 2 so to record an order transmitted through it, simultaneously, the order perceived by the management unit 7 of the system motorized closing device to identify a fault transmission.

As part of a configuration as shown in the figure 2, corresponding to an installation comprising several motorized locking systems, here represented as roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D to which it is possible to transmit a grouped order, either through a specific control unit or through one any of the control boxes 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D corresponding each of these roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D is provided, preferentially, to capture, by means of means of wired or not connection connecting the test tool 9 to this control unit concerned, the group order transmitted to compare it to the order received by the different components and saved in their memory respective 6 whose test tool 9 is capable of reading the content.

The process according to the invention and the operation of the test tool allowing its implementation will be better understood in view of the description which follows relating to precisely in this figure 2 representing several components rollers 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D with which is associated a housing command 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D allowing them to be transmitted to the minus, an order to open or close. All in particular, the transmission between a control unit and a rolling shutter is carried out by radio waves, infrared or the like.

Furthermore, these roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are connected to a power supply network 13 through which they are able to transmit information by current carrier. In particular, from a control unit 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D it is possible through an order transmitted to the shutter roller directly associated with it, respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, to communicate with the other roller shutters of the group or a sub-group of roller shutters to ensure the command to close and / or open simultaneously several roller shutters from such a 2A control unit, 2B, 2C, 2D.

Note that such a configuration also allows these other roller shutters controlled from a control box determined, to transmit information in return, by example, order fulfillment information.

In such a configuration, the diagnostic method consists therefore to be saved in electronically coded form at the level of the memory 6 of the management units 7 of the operation of the motor 3 of each of the rolling shutters of the events concerning the latter, in particular, the state in which this roller shutter, open or closed, the number is the origin of different engine stop commands 3 etc .... At the level of this memory 6 is still recorded the nature of the order recently received through the associated order, as well as, if applicable, the nature of the last order which was transmitted by carrier current by a another roller shutter. The process then consists in connecting to said management unit 7 of each of these rolling shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D a test tool 9 by means of connection 8 which are advantageously in the form a power outlet 14 suitable for being connected by current carrier, to these roller shutters. Indeed, in such configuration these necessarily include means of encryption and decryption for, specifically, as appropriate send a train on this power supply network 13 for other roller shutters or on the contrary, receive and decrypt information transmitted by carrier current and which is intended for them.

Of course, the test tool 9 then also includes a such encryption-decryption unit 15 to communicate to the across this network 13 with roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D this, at the same time, to read the contents of their memory 6 or again to detect any current transmission carrier.

It is still possible to envisage connection means 8 not wired between the test tool 9 and these management units 7 roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, in particular if these the latter are linked together by such means of non-wired transmission.

Insofar as a control unit 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D communicates with its roller shutter 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D by radio waves or the like and that, consequently, said roller shutter 1 is necessarily equipped with a suitable receiver, said means of connection 8 can still be in the form of a transmitter associated with test tool 9 which is then able to transmit information to the receiver of the management 7 of a rolling shutter 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D determined. Once this transmission established, this same test tool can communicate with each of the other roller shutters by current carrier and using the encryption and decryption unit necessarily equipping the roller shutter with which it communicates directly.

Conversely, in order to collect information, at the level of this test tool 9, data in memory 6 of each of the roller shutters 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, it suffices to equip said shutter rolling with which it communicates directly, by waves radio, infrared or other, from a transmitter capable of transmit, to a receiver of the test tool 9, said data corresponding to this same rolling shutter, but also the data from the memories of the other roller shutters collected by carrier current.

In particular, one can call upon the receiver whose necessarily equipped with such a roller shutter to use it as transmitter by controlling the piloting of the oscillator of this receiver via the microcontroller 10 which comprises a management unit 7.

Finally, the transmitter of the test tool 9 comes first transmit, via the roller shutter receiver, an order to send information to the microcontroller 10, which microcontroller 10, by running, ensures the control of the receiver oscillator for this transmission of informations requested. For this to work, it is enough approach this test tool 9 close enough to the flap roller to which it is intended to be connected directly knowing that the connection to the other roller shutters is made through this same rolling shutter, by carrier current.

In such a configuration, this test tool 9 comprises, despite everything, means of connection to the supply network electric 13, in order, on the one hand, to measure the degree of pollution of this network. This consists of detecting whether a signal carrier current other than those transmitted by systems is likely to disrupt the operation of these latter.

Such a connection also makes it possible to carry out a comparison between carrier current signals transmitted between roller shutters and those perceived and recorded at their respective memory 6.

In the same way, this test tool 9 comprises, advantageously, wave receiving means 16 of a nature identical to the communication existing between a command 2; 2A, 2B, 2C and a roller shutter 1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, even between the different roller shutters if these are intended to communicate with each other other than by wire, so as to detect if in the environment where a transmission by radio, infrared or other waves, is not polluted by parasitic waves are not able to disrupt this communication.

The test tool 9 can be provided with display means 11 capable of informing the user of the nature of the defect (s) identified through data found in memories 6 roller shutters or different phenomena disturbers detected.

Advantageously, such display means 11 use a simple configuration of a plurality of indicators 11A, 11B, 11C ... to which is associated a clear legend allowing a quick interpretation. In particular, the test tool 9 comprises, in this case, an internal processing unit 12A, which is capable of decrypting the content of memories 6 or, still to interpret other measures to control the ignition or the extension of a particular indicator 11A, 11B, 11C constituting direct information for this operator.

However, this test tool 9 can still be connected to a external processing unit 12. In this case this tool test 9 may advantageously be equipped with a modem 17 for the transmission, by a telecommunications network 18, of information it will have collected during a test cycle. This makes it possible to envisage, in particular, maintenance at distance from such an installation grouping several systems motorized closing devices.

Claims (9)

Method for diagnosing the operation of at least one motorized closing system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D), in particular of a rolling shutter, characterized in that: one or more related events are recorded in electronically coded form, at the level of a memory (6) of a management unit (7) of the operation of the engine (3) of said system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) during operation of this engine (3); a test tool (9) adapted to read the content of the data in memory (6) is connected to said management unit (7) by means of wired or non-wired connection means (8); we proceed to the interpretation of the data collected through an internal processing unit (12A) or external (12) to the test tool (9) in order to issue clear information for an operator on the nature of the or detected faults. Diagnostic method according to claim 1, characterized in that: there is also recorded in the memory (6) of the management unit (7), of a motorized closing system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D), the order transmitted from a control unit ( 2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D); the test tool (9) is connected, wired or non-wired, to said control box (2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D), in order to record an order transmitted through the latter in order to identify a transmission fault. Test tool (9) for the operation of at least one motorized closure system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D), for implementing the method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that that it includes: means of wired or not connection (8) to a management unit (7) of the operation of said motorized system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D); means for reading and recording the content of the memory (6) of the management unit (7); a processing unit (12; 12A) for the data collected; means for displaying the results emitted by said processing unit in the form of identification of the fault or faults detected. Test tool according to claim 3, characterized by fact that display means (11) are defined by a plurality of indicators (11A; 11B, 11C ..) with which is associated a clear legend suitable for direct interpretation by a operator. Test tool according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that it includes receiving means waves (16) identical in nature to the communication between a control box (2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and a system of motorized closure (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) and / or between different motorized locking systems (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) for detect the emission of parasitic waves. Test tool according to any one of Claims 3 to 4, characterized in that it includes a modem for transmission of the data collected through a network of telecommunications (18). Test tool according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the connection means (8) to a management unit (7) of a motorized closing system (1 ; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) are of the carrier current type and defined by the power supply network of said system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D), the latter as well as the said tool being provided with a unit of encryption and decryption adapted to such a transmission information by carrier current. Test tool according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the connection means (8) to a management unit (7) of a motorized closing system (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) provided with at least one receiver for reception of a transmission emitted by the transmitter of a control unit (2; 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D), are essentially defined by a transmitter associated with the test tool and receiver of said system motorized closing device (1; 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D), said test tool (9) by its transmitter being provided capable of transmitting to the microcontroller (10) of the management unit (7) a sending order information at least contained in its memory (6) for ensure the piloting, by this microcontroller (10), of the oscillator of the receiver and the transmission by the latter of informations requested. Test tool according to claim 8, characterized by fact that the connection means (8) are still completed by a carrier current connection between different motorized closing (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) for reading, through of said system to which said tool (9) is connected by through its transmitter of the contents of the memory (6) of the management unit (7) corresponding to each of the others motorized locking systems (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D).

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