FR2812110A1 - Building locking system has central remote control automatically assigns functions for all shutters - Google Patents

Abstract

A building locking system has a central remote control (13) put into learning mode by the keyboard (19,20) to receive (15) the functions of other remote controls (12) and stored (18) for use by the remote control in place of assigned transmitters (11).

Description

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  The invention relates to a remote control device for mechanisms for closing devices for building openings according to the preamble of claim 1 In the case of the closing devices mentioned, these may in particular be motorized rolling shutters with the aid of which the following description will be described as well as a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the applicability of the present invention is by no means limited to this special type of closure device. Rather, the invention can be used in the same way, for example also in rolling doors, louvers, sliding or swing gates, sliding doors

  or casement, sliding or casement shutters and the like.

  The operation of motorized roller shutters can be broadly divided into four different control modes (Figure 1): a) Direct individual control The control is done via a 230V network line 1 from a switch 2 associated with the respective roller shutter, directly on the motor 3 which sets the rolling shutter in motion. To operate each of the roller shutters, you must

  go to the respective switch 2 and operate it.

  b) Pilot lines The control is carried out via low voltage pilot lines 4 in combination with motor control modules 5 which are associated respectively with individual roller shutters. The individual control modules 5 are interconnected by pilot lines 4 so that it is possible and to operate the individual roller shutters from the respectively associated control modules 5 and to operate simultaneously a group of roller shutters from a central station 6 via said pilot lines 4, thereby achieving greater operating comfort. Instead of low-voltage lines, 230V mains lines are also used as pilot lines 4. However, the range of functions of the operation is fixed. Changes are linked to a relatively large and professional effort. c) Bus control (for example European installation bus, BIE) The drive mechanisms 3 are controlled either by external actors with a bus interface, or the drive mechanisms 3 themselves have a bus interface. Likewise, each operating unit 7 comprises a bus interface. It is possible to connect to the bus 8 a large number of operating units 7 and of drive mechanisms 3 as well as a central station 9 for the simultaneous operation of several rolling shutters. The association of the individual drive mechanisms 3 with the operating units 7 as well as the installation of a central station 9 are controlled by software from a computer with bus interface which, for this purpose, is temporarily connected to the bus 8. However, this programming cannot be done by

  the user, but it requires the costly intervention of a BIE expert. At-

  beyond this fact, the operating units 7 and the drive mechanisms 3

BIE interface are expensive.

  d) Radio remote controls The drive mechanisms 3 are controlled by radio signals from transmitters 11. In this case, the engine control module includes a radio receiver 12 and can form a separate unit from the drive mechanism 3 or can also be integrated directly into the

drive mechanism 3.

  Like bus commands, radio remote controls are also faced with the problem of association between transmitters and receivers. In the case of radio remote controls, the following concepts are essentially distinguished: a) The transmitters are taught to the respective receiver (engine control module) during manufacture or assembly. The receiver thus reacts to all the taught transmitters. The number of transmitters that can be

  3s taught to a receiver is limited.

  b) A transmitter and a receiver form a function pair with determined addresses. But, the transmitter can be taught to (copied to)

other transmitters.

  c) Both the transmitter and the receiver are provided with miniature switches through which it is possible to set an address.

  (bit rate). The receiver reacts only to this set address.

  In all these concepts, the user must operate a plurality of transmitters of 1o remote control and cannot simply modify or complete their association made once by the manufacturer to specific receivers, which would be desirable for example in the event of failure. of a transmitter or in the case of changes in the mode of use of parts. Almost as in the case of wired control via pilot lines, the comfort of

  maneuverability and flexibility therefore leave something to be desired.

  Taking as a basis this prior art, the object of the invention is to create a remote control device for drive mechanisms for closing devices for building openings, which offers a comfortable and flexibly configurable operation by the user

  even and which, beyond this fact, can be carried out at advantageous costs.

  According to the invention, this object is achieved by a remote control device

  having the features of claim 1.

  Advantageous embodiments of the invention are included in the

sousrevendications.

  An essential advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the individual transmitters and receivers which are associated respectively with each other can be produced at advantageous costs in a minimal configuration, since all the complex functions of comfort and organization, such as the joint control of several drive mechanisms, the new configuration or reconfiguration of the joint control, the act of copying individual transmitters, the display of associations, states and sequences, are carried out by a station upper central. Thus, in the case of a wireless transmission for example, the transmitters do not require a transmitter stage of good performance, with long range. Another advantage is the practical commissioning of the drive mechanisms and transmitters which can be associated with each other already at the factory. If the user requests a high degree of comfort, he can optionally acquire, if necessary also later, a central station and can achieve by means of it functions of comfort and organization of the aforementioned type, namely of his own hand, that is to say without the use of expensive external services. In the case of larger installations, it is also conceivable

  to use several central stations.

  Moreover, the transmitters, the receivers and the central station (s) need not necessarily communicate by radio, but there is also in particular the possibility of wired communication via the supply network, because that trunk lines must be routed either way to the drive mechanisms respectively. Consequently, the concepts "transmitter" and "receiver" must be understood here in a general way in the sense of converters between the source of messages and the channel of messages or else between the channel of messages and the collector of

  messages, and should not already involve wireless communication.

  An embodiment of the invention will be described below, based on the drawings. In which: FIG. 1 shows control concepts for roller shutters according to the prior art, as previously described, FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a remote control device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 shows a diagram of sequence with some examples for

  possible sequences for operating the device according to the invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in an installation with several motorized roller shutters which can be remote-controlled and with individual remote control transmitters 11 associated respectively with these, a remote control device 13 according to the invention functions as a central station 13 which allows comfortable operation and management of the entire installation. During manufacture, the individual transmitters 11 are taught to the receivers 12 integrated into the drive mechanisms 3 of the roller shutters. According to the prior art, this can be done in the following manner: The transmitter 11 to be taught is approached up to a very small distance from the receiver 12 which, in the initial state, has very low sensitivity by a desired damping. By acting on a determined key for controlling the transmitter 11, a signal is transmitted which is detected by the receiver 12 despite its low sensitivity, after which the receiver 12 enters a learning mode and stores the identification code (address) of the transmitter 11, which is contained in the received bit rate. Thus, the association of the transmitter 11 and the receiver 12 is achieved. The receiver 12 therefore passes from the learning mode to the service mode and increases, during this, its sensitivity so as to reach a sufficient degree for the desired service. When receiving a signal, it is always checked whether the bit rate received matches the transmitter address contained therein with the taught address, and it is only in the case of a positive result that the instruction also contained in the received bit rate is executed. This is one of several different possibilities of teaching a transmitter 11 to a receiver 12. For example, another very easy and wired possibility of putting a receiver 12 in a learning mode resides in the fact of apply a determined voltage to a contact which is provided for this purpose on the receiver

  12 and which is accessible from the outside.

  Admittedly, an installation consisting of several drive mechanisms 3 which can be remote-controlled, with associated remote control transmitters 11, is as such capable of operating, but it does not offer great comfort in operation. In order to increase the latter, it is possible to optionally add to the installation a remote control device 13 according to the invention as a central station 13. This comprises a transmitter 14, a receiver 15, a microprocessor 16 with the wiring and the periphery 17 associated correspondents, a memory 18, a keyboard 19 with separate function keys 20, a display unit 21, a power supply 22 with a buffer 23 in the event of a power failure, an external interface 24, a acoustic signal generator 25 and

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  a communication interface 26 for the trunk line 1. The above-mentioned components are partly optional, that is to say not all of them are absolutely necessary for carrying out the invention. Advantageously, the keyboard 19 and the display unit 21 can be combined to form a screen sensitive to the keys (touchscreen). The first step in integrating a central station 13 into a rolling shutter installation which can be remotely controlled is the learning of existing individual transmitters 11. To this end, the user puts the central station 13, by a corresponding instruction, in a learning mode, the transmitter to be taught 11 is placed near the central station 13, a corresponding function key of the transmitter 11 is actuated, and, by means of the signal transmitted thereon from the central station 13, the address of the transmitter 11 as well as the control codes thereof which respectively trigger specific functions of the associated drive mechanism 3 of the roller shutter, are stored in the memory 18 of the central station 13. An essential characteristic of the learning process is an automatic sequence after the initiation carried out, that is to say the whole extent of the functions of the transmitter 11 is taught always in full and not each individual partial function (for example UP, DOWN, STOP) separately. During learning, the user can assign a clear text designation to each transmitter address which indicates the location and / or the function of the drive mechanism 3 associated with the transmitter 11, (for example "room living room on the left "," first bathroom

  floor "), and which, of course, can be changed later.

  When all the desired individual transmitters 11 are taught at the central station 13, the associated drive mechanisms 3 can be optionally controlled from the respectively associated individual transmitter 11 or from the central station 13. When a drive mechanism 3 is operated from the central station 13, it can be chosen by the keyboard 19 under its assigned designation when learning the associated transmitter 11, which greatly simplifies the operation in the case of a greater number of mechanisms 3. In the case of wireless transmission, the transmitter 14 of the central station 13 has a considerably greater range than an individual transmitter 11, so that it is possible to reach from a station central 13 every

  drive mechanisms 3 of a house's shutters.

  By means of the designations of the taught transmitters 11, the user can also compose groups or blocks, such as all the roller shutters of a determined room, of a determined floor, of a determined side of the house or all the shutters rolling of rooms having a specific function, for example of all bedrooms. The transmitters 11 are taught only once and can be used later also in several overlapping groups. These groups or blocks can be subordinated by the user to specific sequences of functions, such as for example a time-dependent command or a command via light, temperature, wind or rain sensors. Naturally, groups once established can be modified by the user at any time as required, and it is also possible to park or erase specific drive mechanisms 3, i.e. remove them temporarily or

  permanently maneuvering via the central station 13.

  Suitably, the handling of the user of the central station 13 is controlled by menu from a fully graphical user / system interface, which guarantees easy handling to be learned by everyone as well as comfortable operating functions such as the closing or opening by groups of roller shutters, as organizational functions such as learning, grouping, combining functions, parking or erasing. To this end, one can also provide, to complete the keyboard 19, an indicating device of the type known in notebook computers (such as the touchpad), or, as already mentioned, the keyboard 19 and the display unit. 21 can be combined to form a screen sensitive to the keys. The acoustic signal generator 25 is used to support

  the transmission of messages from the central station 13 to the user.

  Beyond this fact, certain functions, preferably organizing, can be provided with a password in order to avoid an unintentional modification, in particular by unauthorized persons. These are in particular functions such as the modification of the basic settings of the central unit (display configuration, menu structure, password) or the modification of groupings or associations of functions of the drive mechanisms 3 to maneuver which are taken into account

for it.

  With regard to the communication between the central station 13 and the receivers 12 of the individual drive mechanisms 3, these are addressed in series at an appropriate interval after having, for example, chosen a group and given the instruction for the closing, the respective signals being able to be emitted only once or several times. Signals may contain UP / STOP / DOWN instructions or special functions. It is also conceivable that an instruction is repeated until a given maximum number of transmission tests is reached or that the receiver 12 has acknowledged receipt of the signal, which the latter must naturally have a own transmitter. In this case, it is also conceivable that a receiver 12 transmits certain information by itself, such as for example with regard to the appearance of a fault in the drive mechanism 3, at the central station 13, which evaluates these and represents them on its display 21 which can be linked to an acoustic signaling by the signal generator

acoustic 25.

  The external interface 24 provided as a component of the central station 13 can for example be a serial interface of the known type (for example USB) and can be used to connect the central station 13 to a personal computer (01) in order to save the system configuration saved in the memory thereof on a data medium or in order to establish the system configuration from said personal computer. The computer

  individual could also be used for maneuvering and visualization.

  The teaching of individual transmitters 11 at the central station and the action of copying an address of individual transmitter to a reserve transmitter 11, for example in the event of loss or default of an individual transmitter 11, are taken into account. like other applications of an external interface 24. In this case, the teaching or copying process could be initiated simply by the fact that the individual transmitter 11 to teach or else to provide an address stored in the central station 13 is connected to interface 24 and the corresponding function, teaching or copying, is activated

on the central station 13.

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  The interface 26 provided for communication via the network line 1 aims at the possibility of a remote control and / or a interrogation of the state remotely

  from outside the building or from a hierarchically superior station.

  But on the other hand, it is also conceivable to realize the communication between the central station 13 and the receivers 12 of the drive mechanisms 3 not wirelessly, but on wire via the supply lines 1 which must be

  anyway to the individual drive mechanisms 3.

  In this case, the transmitter 14 which transforms the operating instructions given by the central station 13 into a signal suitable for transmission to the drive mechanisms 3, as a rule a high frequency signal, as does the receiver 12 in the drive mechanism 3 would already present respectively an interface 26 to the supply network 1. Such interfaces are the prior art, and, for this reason,

  they do not need to be explained here in more detail.

  For a better understanding of the operating mode of the remote control device 13 according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows an example of a flow diagram which graphically explains the logical relationship and the

  temporal sequence of certain essential functions of the functions described above

above.

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Claims (14)

claims   1. Remote control device for drive mechanisms for closing devices for building openings, comprising a memory, a transmitter and an input unit, characterized in that it comprises a receiver (15) and a control logic (16, 17) which act in concert with the other components so that the remote control device (13) can be put into a learning mode by the input unit (19, 20), in which, by means of the receiver (15), the functions of several other remote control devices (11) can be completely transmitted in the memory (18), and that the functions put in this way in the memory   (18) can be controlled by the input unit (19, 20).   2. Remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of instructions to the receivers (12) which are respectively associated with the drive mechanisms (3) to be controlled, is   performed wirelessly by electromagnetic signals.   3. Remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of instructions to the receivers (12) which are respectively associated with the drive mechanisms (3) to be controlled, is   carried out by wired signals via the supply network (1).   4. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   previous, characterized in that the transmission of the functions of a remote control device (11) in the memory (18) takes place   automatically after its initiation.   5. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   previous, characterized in that it includes a display unit graphic (21).   6. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   previous, characterized by the fact that the functions stored in the Il 2812110 memory (18) can be combined by means of the input unit (19, 20),   to form groups that can be ordered jointly.   7. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   above, characterized in that it is possible, by means of the input unit (19, 20) and the display unit (21), to associate with the functions stored in the memory (18) designations which can be chosen individually or in groups and which are also included in the memory (18).   8. Remote control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the functions put in the memory (18) can be controlled   by the input unit (19, 20) by means of their associated designations.   9. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   above, characterized in that the functions stored in the memory (18) can be controlled individually or in groups as a function of the date and / or time and / or of signals from external sensors.   10. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   above, characterized in that it offers the user, by means of the display unit (21) and the input unit (19, 20), an interface user / system graph.   11. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   above, characterized in that it has in addition to the transmitter (14) and the receiver (15) at least one interface (24, 26) suitable for data transmission.   12. Remote control device according to claim 11, characterized in that, by the interface (24, 26), functions stored in the memory (18) can be copied to another remote control device (11) and / or the   contents of memory (18) can be read.   13. Remote control device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, via the interface (24, 26), status information can be 12 2812110   called from outside and operating functions can be triggered from outside.   14. Remote control device according to one or more of the claims   , characterized in that acknowledgments of receipt of the drive mechanisms (3) to be controlled can be received by means of the receiver (15) and can be represented by the display unit (21)   and / or be acoustically signaled.