FR2907612A1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A MOBILE SCREEN OF AN AUTONOMOUS DOMOTIC DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of control is intended for controlling the movement of a mobile screen of an autonomous home-automation device furnished with an energy storage element, the mobile screen being able to occupy a safety position. It is characterized in that the method comprises, following receipt of a control command: - a step of determining the energy available in the energy storage element, - a step of determining the energy necessary for executing a sequence comprising the control command and a return of the mobile screen to the safety position on completion of the execution of the control command, - a step of comparing the energy available with the energy required so as to determine whether the device has enough energy for the execution of the sequence.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling the movement of a

  autonomous home automation equipment, mobile in at least two opposite directions, and driven by an actuator equipped with an electric motor.

  In such equipment, a renewable energy converter, solar, wind or thermal, electrically supplies an electrical energy storage element to ensure the operation of a movable screen by the actuator. The mobile screen is for example a gate or a garage door, a shutter, a blind.

  A major problem with this type of installation is the oversizing of the energy converter and the storage element, in order to always have a sufficient amount of energy when the user needs it. Sizing is made problematic by the irregular nature of the availability of the renewable energy source, in particular because of climatic hazards. To avoid user dissatisfaction, or even security issues on the mobile screen or for people, the designer is forced to over-size the conversion and / or storage components. This results in an additional cost detrimental to the development of such autonomous solutions. DE196 41 592 discloses an automatic door device in which the level of charge of an electric supply battery is regularly measured. Depending on the state of charge of the latter, the device is placed in normal mode, in energy saving mode or in safety mode. In the energy saving mode, the door is driven at reduced speed. In the safety mode, only safety commands can be made, the transition to safety mode taking place as soon as the energy available in the battery MS \ 2. S649.12EN.573.dpt.doc 2907612 2 is less than the energy required to execute a complete safety command. In this mode, no other type of command is executable. Setting an energy threshold below which it is no longer possible to execute certain commands greatly hampers the functionality of the device. The object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling the movement of an autonomous home automation equipment that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and improves the control methods known in the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a control method making it possible to dimension the energy converter and the storage element of the autonomous home automation equipment as accurately as possible while allowing the equipment to perform its functions as much as possible and ensuring the safe operation of the equipment. The invention also relates to home automation equipment implementing the control method and to a method of configuring such home automation equipment. The control method according to the invention is intended to control the movement of a mobile screen of an autonomous home automation device provided with an energy storage element, the mobile screen being capable of occupying a position of security. It is characterized in that the method comprises, following a reception of a control command: a step of determining the energy available in the energy storage element, a step of determining the energy necessary to execute the control command and the possible return of the mobile screen in the safety position at the end of the execution of the command order, MS \ 2. S649.12EN.573.dpt.doc 2907612 3 a step of executing the control command provided that it remains in the energy storage element at the end of the execution of the control order, sufficient energy to ensure the possible return of the movable screen in the safety position. The execution step of the control command can be a partial or complete execution step, depending on the result of a preliminary step of comparison of the energy available in the energy storage element and the energy required to execute the control command and the possible return of the mobile screen in the safety position at the end of the execution of the control command. The method may include a step of determining the partial execution percentage of the control order preceding a partial execution step of the control command. The method may include a signaling step following a partial execution step of the control command and / or a signaling step preceding a partial execution step of the control command. The method may comprise a preliminary step in which the energy consumptions relating to the executions of the various orders of orders executable by the home automation device are determined. The method may include a step of testing whether the energy contained in the energy storage means is below a critical threshold and a step in which an MS \ 2 order is executed. S649.12FR.573. move the moving screen to the safety position if this is the case. The method may include a step in which an activation of an auxiliary charging means of the storage element and a step of executing a control command are detected as soon as a threshold of available energy in the storage element is reached. storage element is crossed on the rise. The autonomous home automation device according to the invention comprises a mobile screen and an energy storage element. It is characterized in that it comprises hardware and software means for implementing the control method defined above. The appended drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of a home automation equipment according to the invention and various embodiments of the operating method according to the invention. Figure 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of an autonomous home automation equipment according to the invention. Figure 2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a control method of an autonomous home automation equipment according to the invention. Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a charging procedure of an energy storage element by auxiliary means. Figure 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of configuring an autonomous home automation equipment according to the invention. The autonomous home automation device INST shown in FIG. 1 comprises a mobile screen SCR driven in a first direction DIR1 or in a second direction DIR2 by a drive shaft. SHF of an MOT engine contained in an ACT actuator. The actuator comprises an MCU control unit 5 having a first CW output for rotating the motor in a clockwise direction, while a second CCW output for rotating the motor in a counterclockwise direction. The directions of rotation of the motor are converted into the direction of movement of the mobile screen SCR by means not shown. Alternatively, the motor is of linear type. The SCR mobile screen is described later as a blind, but it could be of any other nature. In particular, it could be a gate, a garage door or a shutter. The control unit comprises a first logic type input IN1 connected to an RFC output of an RCU command receiving unit. Orders are transmitted to the installation by radio frequency. The RCU command receiving unit therefore comprises a radio frequency receiver, and an ANT input connected to an antenna. Preferably, the command receiving RCU is bi-directional, i.e. it allows the sending of information. The control unit comprises a second input IN2, of logic type, connected to a position sensor POS, for example of the absolute type or alternatively of the incremental type, indicating the position or the displacement of the mobile screen. Alternatively, the POS position sensor is of the potentiometric type and the second input IN2 is then of analog type. The actuator is powered by a BAT energy storage element, comprising an accumulator or preferably a supercapacitor. This power supply is performed by a cable with two MS \ 2. S 649.12 FR. 73. dept. 6 conductors applying the voltage of the storage element to a power supply input VCC of the MCU control unit. The BAT storage element is powered by a PVC renewable energy converter, comprising a photovoltaic cell panel. Alternatively, the energy converter is of the thermo-electric or mechano-electric type, the mechanical energy being wind or hydraulic. A charge controller, such as a DC-DC boost converter, may be interposed between the renewable energy converter 10 and the storage element. The link between the renewable energy converter and the storage element is unidirectional. For example it comprises a diode, so as to avoid the discharge of the storage element in the renewable energy converter.

The storage element may consist of several switchable elements, in particular in order to allow faster charging of an element of smaller capacity. Auxiliary means AUX provide the electrical energy necessary for recharging the storage element if the stored energy is insufficient and the user wishes to cause movement. Auxiliary means AUX comprises an electromechanical generator, for example a rectifying alternator or a dynamo activated manually by the user. Alternatively, the auxiliary means comprises an accumulator or a dry cell and a DC-DC converter. The connection of the auxiliary means to the storage element, represented by an arrow, is not permanent. Alternatively, the connection is permanent but the use of the auxiliary means is intermittent and a unidirectional connection, for example diode, is used to avoid the discharge of the storage element in the auxiliary means. MS \ 2. S 649.12 FR. 73. dept. A DET detector detects whether the auxiliary means is activated by the user. The detection consists, for example, in detecting the connection of a connecting cable connecting the auxiliary means to the storage element. Alternatively, the detection consists in detecting a current supplied by the auxiliary means. The detector DET is connected to a third input IN3 of the control unit MCU. The control unit comprises a memory, of which several elements 10 are shown in FIG. 1, their role being described below. One embodiment of a control method of a home automation device according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG.

In a preliminary learning step E10, the ENG energies necessary for executing different motion commands of the mobile screen are determined. These energies are determined in an installer-initiated configuration procedure as described below, or are determined by the manufacturer of the home automation equipment. They are stored in an ENG memory element of the control unit. For example, an ENG (k) value, for example equal to 150, is stored in memory if it is known that the energy required for a complete folding movement of the SCR blind is 1500 joules (50 watts for 30 seconds). We record n values ENG (k) corresponding to n motion control commands (k varying from 1 to n). The memory element ENG of the control unit therefore comprises a table of values. In addition, the stored energy value ENG (k) may include not only the energy value needed to execute a particular motion, but also the energy required to perform a subsequent safety movement, that is to say the return of the mobile screen in a safety position. For example, in the case of a blind, the safety position is the position in which the mobile screen or canvas is completely wound. Indeed, in this position, the screen is insensitive to certain external parameters, including the wind. In the case of a door or roller shutter, it is conceivable that the safety position may be a position in which the mobile screen is partially open or completely open for example to allow evacuation in case of danger. For example, a full blind deployment command requires 15,900 joules (30 watts for 30 seconds). However, the decline of the blind requiring 1500 joules, we will record a value of 240 corresponding to a required energy of 2400 joules (= 900 joules for deployment + 1500 joules for the fallback). It is important to ensure, before a full deployment movement is made, that enough energy is available for subsequent retreat, for example in the event of a strong wind. If this is not the case, the security of the blind is not ensured. In a second step E20, the available energy in the storage element and the position of the moving screen are determined. A cause may cause gradual discharge of the storage element. This cause may simply be self-discharge into the internal resistance of the BAT storage element. This gradual discharge can also be due to the current required to supply the control unit 30, or to the consumption of an additional sensor, not shown, also connected to the storage element, for example MS \ 2. S649.12EN.573.dpt.doc 2907612 9 meteorological sensor. It can also be due to the fact that two or more actuators share the resource of the same storage element.

The determination of the energy available in the storage element BAT is facilitated in the case where the storage element is a capacitor or a supercapacitor, since it is then sufficient to measure, on the supply line VCC, the voltage available at the terminals of the storage element.

The available energy is substantially less than the total energy stored in the BAT storage element. Indeed, in the case of a capacitor capacitor C having a voltage V at its terminals, the stored energy is (C x V 2) / 2. However, the voltage V drops when the capacitor supplies current. When the voltage V reaches a threshold Vo, the voltage available on the supply line becomes, for example, less than the operating threshold of the ACT actuator and the actuator can no longer be operated although there is still energy in the storage element. In other words, the energy available when the measured voltage is equal to V is equal to: ENGd = C x (V2-Vol) / 2 The position of the screen is also determined.

In the case where the blind is in the deployed position, the voltage available at the terminals of the storage element is permanently monitored and, in a test step E30, its crossing of a downward safety threshold is detected. . This safety threshold corresponds, with a safety factor close, to the energy that will be required for the folding of the blind. As soon as the crossing of the security threshold is detected, the control unit MS-2 interprets it in a step E40 as a fallback order of the blind. The process then loops on step E20. The control unit is aware of the extended position of the blind 5 either by measuring its position with the aid of the POS position sensor or because an indicator has been positioned in an EOL end-of-stroke memory element. The fallback control command is then executed by activation of the engine. Thus, the installation is secured against unpredictable discharges of the energy storage element.

The various steps described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be carried out in a control method comprising none of the steps E50 to E100 which are described later, in a method comprising some of the steps E50 to E100 which are described Subsequently or in a method comprising all steps E50 to E100 which are described later. If the safety threshold is not crossed in step E30, a step E50 is taken, in which it is tested whether a motion control command is received. If this is not the case, we loop on the step E20. In the case where a motion control command is received, the RCU command receiving unit receives a radio frequency signal picked up by the antenna. The nature of the command is decoded. Alternatively, the logic frame of the received signal is transmitted to the MCU control unit by the RFC output of the command receiving unit, and the decoding takes place in the MCU control unit. In all cases, the control unit MCU records the command to be satisfied in a memory element CMD.

30 M 5 \ 2. S 649.12FR. 73. dept. In a step E60, the available energy ENGd is compared in the storage element with the energy ENG necessary for the movement corresponding to the received control command.

In the following steps, an action is performed by the actuator ACT according to the result of the comparison of the previous step. This action is also determined based on the command received and recorded CMD. If the received command order corresponds to a partial deployment of the blind, the necessary energy is possibly calculated during this step by applying a calculation rule, for example of proportionality, to the value corresponding to a complete movement. For example, if the control command is the 50% deployment of the blind, it is determined that the energy required to execute this command order is 1200 joules (ie 450 joules for the deployment and 15 750 joules for the fold). A safety margin is optionally taken by adding a constant or multiplication by a predefined factor to the required energy value recorded. The predefined factor is preferably between 1.2 and 1.5 for a perfectly designed installation, but the safety margin can be increased, to the detriment of the cost of the installation, by taking an integer factor, for example 2 or 3. When the available energy is greater than the energy required, the action represented by a step E70 is the activation of the motor until the complete execution of the received control command. In an optional next step E75, the home automation device can signal to the user the number of control commands, identical to the one just executed, which can still be executed. This indication can be provided by saccades in the movement of the screen, the number of saccades being representative of the number of orders that can be subsequently executed with the energy reserves. Preferably, MS \ 2. This indication is given only when there are fewer than three control orders that can still be executed. The process then loops on step E20.

When the available energy is less than the energy required, in a step E80, the device determines the execution percentage of the control command. The amplitude of deployment of the blind can be determined as previously using a model in which the energy consumed is proportional to the amplitude of deployment of the blind.

For example, imagine that the awning is initially deployed at 25% of its travel and that the user issues a full deployment motion control command of the awning but that there is only one energy of 1170 joules left in the room. storage element. To allow a complete execution of the control order on the basis of the hypotheses made above, it would be necessary for it to remain an energy of 2610 joules (= 675 joules for the deployment of 25% to 100% + 1500 joules for the total decline + 435 joules for a safety factor of 1.2). Full execution of the order is therefore impossible. The home automation device will therefore calculate how much can be deployed the awning fabric to best perform its function while preserving the energy resources necessary for its withdrawal in case of necessity. The execution of the order order will therefore be partial: although the order given by the user is a full deployment order, the blind can only be deployed 50% or so . Indeed, 225 joules will be required for the deployment of the blind from 25% to 50% and 750 joules will be necessary for the complete withdrawal of the blind from this position. It will therefore remain once the blind wound up theoretically 195 joules available corresponding to the safety factor of 1.2 used.

MS \ 2. S 649.12FR. 73. dept. In an optional next step E85, the home automation device signals to the user that he has too little power to execute the control command completely. To do this, the actuator can for example be activated in a particular manner causing jerks of the mobile screen. This warns the user of an energy problem. In a step E90, the motion control command is partially executed. The action may also consist of a moving movement of the mobile screen. The execution of the partial control order may consist in deploying the blind only on a stroke portion, as determined in step E80. This ensures that there will be enough energy to wind it up again when needed. In another optional step E100, the home automation device signals to the user that the available energy is less than the energy required. To do this, as in step E85, the actuator can for example be activated in a particular manner causing jolts of the mobile screen. This warns the user of an energy problem.

In step E100, the home automation device can also signal to the user the time required to recharge the storage element so that the storage element has enough energy so that the control command can be executed. completely. For this purpose, as in step E85, the actuator may for example be activated in a particular manner causing jolts of the mobile screen. Alternatively, as in the case of the other signaling steps described above, data can be sent from the home automation device to a display device. The time calculation is based on the storage conditions of the storage element at the time of execution of step E100. MS \ 2. When the amount of available energy is too small for partial execution of the order to be useful, then it is preferable to omit the partial execution step E90 of the 'order. In other words, it can be decided in the calculation of the execution percentage of the order of step E80 that the order should not be executed if the percentage is below a predetermined threshold, for example less than 40%. The signaling of step E85 or step E100 is to indicate how long the recharge will be sufficient to execute the order. Following step E100, the method loops on step E20. Steps E85 and E100 can both be performed in the process. It could also be provided that the execution of the control order is subsequently automatically performed in full as soon as the necessary energy is available in the storage element.

However, it may happen that the use of AUX auxiliary means is necessary to make up for a lack of energy. FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure in which it is desirable to benefit as soon as possible from the additional energy provided by the auxiliary means and under the best ergonomic conditions. In a first auxiliary charging step E25, when the user activates the auxiliary means, either because he plugs it or because he operates this means to generate energy, this activation is detected by the DET detector. . MS \ 2. In a second auxiliary charging step E35, as long as the energy available in the storage element is less than the energy required to execute a next command, nothing happens. .

In a third auxiliary charging step E45, as soon as the available energy exceeds the required energy, the MOT motor is automatically activated in the opposite direction to the previous movement if the product is at the end of its travel, which is known by the state of the memory element EOL. In other words, as soon as enough energy permits, the blind deploys if it is rolled up before user intervention and rolls up if it is deployed. Thus, in particular circumstances, the current state of the screen may substitute for a particular motion control.

If a security flag has been set in a FLG memory element, the blind behavior is different. This security indicator is set if an energy ruler forces the engine to stop while the actuator has received a safety command, for example a fallback command issued by a violent wind sensor. In this case, it is necessary to continue the interrupted movement, as soon as the energy is sufficient. For the user, the intervention is very simple, and the effort provided is that strictly necessary to cause the desired movement.

Alternatively, the direction of a safety movement is previously defined and the state of the safety sensor is tested, either by direct interrogation in the case of a bidirectional link, or by testing the state of the memory element FLG. . Activation of the MOT motor is done automatically in the direction of the safety movement if such movement is necessary, otherwise there is simply transmission of an MS \ 2 signal. S 649.12FR. 73. dept. doc 2907612 16 to warn the user that the installation is available to receive control commands. In this case, the necessary energy considered is that corresponding to the most consumptive order that can be envisaged from the current position of the blind, since it is not known in advance which command will be issued by the user. The transmitted signal can be a brief movement of the blind. The various steps described above with reference to FIG. 3 can be carried out in a control method comprising none of the steps El0 to E100 previously described, in a method comprising some of the steps El0 to El 00 previously described or in a method comprising all the steps El0 to E100 previously described.

The first learning step El0 of the control method may require a procedure for learning the energy required to execute one or more particular movement command orders: total deployment, total fallback, privileged partial deployment, etc. The learning procedure is illustrated in Figure 4.

In a learning step El 1, the motor is activated to execute a particular movement of the blind, either because the installer has issued a command relating to such a movement, or automatically.

In another learning step E12, the energy consumed in the first learning step El1 is determined. This involves measurements of electrical quantities during step step El 1, for example measuring the voltage VCC across the energy storage element 30 at the beginning and at the end of the step. Alternatively, the current consumed and the voltage are measured at regular time intervals. MS \ 2. S649.12FR.573.dpt. The energy consumed is calculated from these measurement acquisitions. In a step E13, the value of the energy required to execute the particular movement is recorded in an ENG memory element. As has been described, this amount is generally greater than the amount determined by measurements. As seen previously, thanks to the invention, it is possible to determine appropriately and accurately the energy required for the execution of the various motion commands in order to adapt the behavior of the home automation device for example by a partial execution of a command received if the amount of available energy is lower than that required. This makes it possible to size the energy converter and the energy storage element as accurately as possible. However, unlike the known methods of the prior art, the control method according to the invention makes it possible to ensure certain functionalities even in the case of a low level of charge of the energy storage element. Thus, for example, in the case of a blind, even if the available energy is just less than the energy required to completely wind the movable element from its fully deployed position, it would be absurd not to allow the execution complete a command order of a deployment at half stroke of the mobile element being fully wound, the energy required for this execution and the possible return of the movable screen in the safety position wound to the resulting from this execution being lower than the energy available in the energy storage element.

MS \ 2. S 649.12FR. 5 7 3. dpt. do c

Claims (8)

claims   : 1. A method of controlling the movement of a mobile screen (SCR) of an autonomous home automation device (INST) equipped with a storage element (BAT) for energy storage, the mobile screen being capable of occupying a position characterized in that the method comprises, after receiving a control command: a step of determining the energy available in the energy storage element, a step of determining the necessary energy when the control command is executed and if the mobile screen is returned to the safe position after the execution of the command command, a step of executing the command command provided that it remains, in the energy storage element, after the execution of the control command, sufficient energy to ensure the possible return of the movable screen in the position of security.   2. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of executing the control command is an execution step either partial or complete, depending on the result of a preliminary step of comparison of the energy available in the energy storage element and the energy required to execute the control command and the possible return of the mobile screen to the safety position at the end of the execution of the the order of order.   3. Control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of determining the MS \ 2. The percentage of partial execution of the control order preceding a partial execution step of the control order.   4. Control method according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a signaling step following a partial execution step of the control command and / or a signaling step preceding a step partial execution of the order. 10   5. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step in which the energy consumptions relating to the executions of the various orders of commands executable by the home automation device are determined. 15   6. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step in which it tests whether the energy contained in the energy storage means is below a critical threshold and a step in which a motion control command of the moving screen is executed to the safety position if this is the case.   7. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step in which an activation of an auxiliary charging means of the storage element is detected and an execution step of a control order as soon as a threshold of available energy in the storage element is exceeded. 30   8. Autonomous home automation device (INST) comprising a mobile screen (SCR) and a storage element (BAT), characterized in MS \ 2. S 649.12FR. 73. dept. It comprises hardware means (RCU, MCU, EOL, CMD, FLG, ENG) and software for carrying out the control method according to one of claims 1 to 7. MS \ 2. S649.12FR.573.dpt.doc