Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
  • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
  • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Electrical power; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/61—Power supply
  • E05Y2400/612—Batteries
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Electrical power; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
  • E05Y2400/61—Power supply
  • E05Y2400/628—Solar cells
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
  • E05Y2800/20—Combinations of elements
  • E05Y2800/246—Combinations of elements with at least one element being redundant
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
  • E05Y2800/25—Emergency conditions
  • E05Y2800/252—Emergency conditions the elements functioning only in case of emergency

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method of controlling the movement of an autonomous home automation equipment, mobile in at least two opposite directions, and driven by an actuator provided with an electric motor.
• 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.
• 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 is lower 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 seriously impairs 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 remedying the drawbacks mentioned above and improving the control methods known from the prior art.
• the invention proposes a control method for dimensioning "at the fairest" the energy converter and the storage element of the home automation equipment while allowing the equipment to ensure maximum functions 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.
• control method according to the invention is defined by claim 1.
• the home automation device according to the invention is defined by claim 11.
• the appended drawing shows, 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 a first embodiment of a control method of a 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.
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of a control method of 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 motor contained in an ACT actuator.
• the actuator includes an MCU control unit whose first CW output rotates the motor in a clockwise direction, while a second CCW output rotates 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.
• the engine is 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 input IN1, of logic type, connected to an RFC output of a command receiving unit RCU. Orders are transmitted to the installation by radio frequency.
• An RX-TX command transmitter can send command commands to the control unit, as represented by a dotted line.
• the command transmitter comprises an MMI human-machine interface consisting for example of control keys and display means.
• the command transmitter comprises a sensor SR, for example a sun sensor, and logic means for establishing a control command when the quantity measured by this sensor, or the variation of this quantity, exceeds a predetermined threshold.
• the issuer of orders is preferably bidirectional.
• the RCU command receiving unit therefore comprises a radio frequency receiver, and an ANT input connected to an antenna.
• the RCU command reception unit is bidirectional, that is to say it allows the sending of information, in particular to the issuer of orders.
• the control unit comprises a second input IN2, of logic type, connected to a position sensor POS, for example of absolute type or alternatively of incremental type, indicating the position or displacement of the movable screen.
• 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 provided by a two-conductor cable applying the voltage of the storage element to a supply input VCC of the control unit MCU.
• the BAT storage element is powered by a PVC renewable energy converter, comprising a photovoltaic cell panel.
• 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 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 to allow a faster recharge of a lower capacity element.
• Auxiliary means AUX provides 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.
• the auxiliary means comprises an accumulator or a dry cell and a DC-DC converter.
• connection of the auxiliary means to the storage element is not permanent.
• 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.
• 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, several elements of which are shown in FIG. 1, their role being described below.
• a first embodiment of a control method of a home automation equipment according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG.
• ENG energies necessary for executing different motion commands of the mobile screen are determined. These energies are determined in a setup procedure initiated by the installer as described below, or determined by the home automation equipment manufacturer. They are stored in an ENG memory element of the control unit.
• 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).
• 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.
• the stored energy value ENG (k) may include not only the energy value necessary to execute a particular movement, 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.
• 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.
• the safety position may be a position in which the movable screen is partially open or completely open for example to allow evacuation in case of danger.
• a full blind deployment command requires 900 joules (30 watts for 30 seconds).
• a cause may cause gradual discharge of the storage element. This cause can be simply self-discharge into the internal resistance of ⁇ BAT storage element. This gradual discharge can also be due to the current required to power the order receiving unit, or to the consumption of an additional sensor, not shown, also connected to the storage element, for example a weather 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 then suffices 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 at its terminals a voltage V, the stored energy is (C x V 2 ) / 2. However, the voltage V drops when the capacitor provides 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 remaining. in the storage element. In other words, the energy available when the measured voltage is equal to V is:
• the position of the screen is also determined.
• the control unit interprets it in a step E40 as an order. of. withdrawal. of the awning. The process then loops on step E20.
• the control unit is aware of the deployed position of the blind either by measuring its position with the aid of the POS position sensor, or because an indicator has been positioned in an end-of-stroke memory element EOL.
• the fallback control command is then executed by activation of the engine.
• the installation is secured against unpredictable discharges of the energy storage element.
• step E30 If the security threshold is not crossed in step E30, proceed to a step E50, in which it is tested whether a motion control command is received. If this is not the case, we loop on the step E20.
• the RCU command receiving unit receives a radio frequency signal picked up by the antenna.
• the nature of the command is decoded.
• the logical frame of the received signal is transmitted to the control unit MCU by the RFC output of the command receiving unit, and the decoding takes place in the control unit MCU.
• the control unit MCU records the command to be satisfied in a CMD memory element.
• a step E60 the available energy ENGd - in the storage element is compared with the energy ENG needed for the movement corresponding to the received control command. This is the energy required to execute a sequence comprising the execution of the control command and a return of the mobile screen to the safety position at the end of the execution of the command. order order.
• 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 deployment at 50% of the blind, it is determined that the energy required to execute the sequence incorporating this control command and the order of return to the safety position is 1200 joules. (ie 450 joules for deployment and 750 joules for fallback).
• 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 "lean" installation, but the safety margin can be increased, at the expense of the cost of installation, by taking an integer factor, for example 2 or 3.
• step E70 When the available energy is greater than the energy required, the action represented by a step E70 is the activation of the motor up to complete execution of the received order order.
• 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, this indication is given only when there remain less than three control orders that can still be executed. The process then loops on step E20.
• the device determines the percentage of execution 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.
• the home automation device signals to the user that he has too little power to execute the control command completely.
• 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.
• the motion control command is partially executed.
• the action may also consist of a moving movement of the mobile screen.
• the execution of the control order in a partial manner may consist in deploying the blind only on a race portion, as determined in step E80. This ensures that there will be enough energy to wind it up again when needed.
• step E100 the home automation device signals to the user that the available energy is less than the energy required.
• 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.
• the home automation device can also signal to the user the time required to recharge the storage element so that it has enough energy so that the control order can be executed completely.
• the actuator can for example be activated so particular causing jerking of the mobile screen.
• 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.
• step E90 of partial execution of the order it is preferable to omit step E90 of partial execution of the order.
• step E85 or step E100 is to indicate after how long recharge will be sufficient for execution of the order.
• step E100 the method loops on step E20.
• Steps E85 and E100 can both be performed in the process.
• the execution of the control order is subsequently automatically performed in full as soon as the necessary energy is available in the storage element.
• the invention simply allows the information of the user by a display or sensory means, for example using the human-machine interface MMI, when this necessary energy is available, so that it confirms order. For example, because of changing conditions sunshine, the need to maneuver the equipment may have disappeared when the necessary energy has become available.
• 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.
• a first auxiliary charging step E25 1 when the user activates the auxiliary means, or because the branch, either because this maneuver means for generating energy, this activation is detected by the detector DET .
• 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.
• a third auxiliary charging step E45 as soon as the available energy exceeds the required energy, the motor MOT is automatically activated in the opposite direction to the previous movement if the product is at the end of the stroke, which is known by the state of the memory element EOL.
• the awning deploys if it was rolled before the intervention of the user and it rolls if it was deployed.
• the current state of the screen may substitute for a particular motion control.
• This security indicator is set if a lack of energy forces the movement to stop of the engine while the actuator has received a safety command, for example a fallback command issued by a wind sensor. In this case, it is necessary to continue the interrupted movement, as soon as the energy is sufficient.
• the intervention is very simple, and the effort provided is that strictly necessary to cause the desired movement.
• 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 automatic in the direction of the safety movement if such movement is necessary, otherwise there is simply a signal to warn the user that the installation is available to receive control commands .
• the necessary energy considered is that corresponding to the most consumptive control possible from the current position of the store, 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 first learning step E10 of the control method may require a procedure for learning the energy required to execute one or more movement control commands. Individuals: total deployment, total withdrawal, partial deployment privileged, etc. The learning procedure is illustrated in Figure 4.
• a learning step E11 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.
• the energy consumed in the first learning step E11 is determined. This involves measurements of electrical quantities during the step E11 step, for example the measurement of the VCC voltage across the energy storage element at the beginning and end of step. Alternatively, the current consumed and the voltage are measured at regular time intervals. The energy consumed is calculated from these measurement acquisitions.
• 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.
• a second embodiment of a control method of a home automation device according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG. 5.
• This mode is for example applicable when the mobile element is at rest in the position in this case, the steps E30 and E40 of the first mode are unnecessary, and the energy expenditure corresponding to the course of these steps is removed.
• the second embodiment differs from the first by moving the step E50, becoming E51 and step E20, becoming E21. so that no order is received, the process loops on step E51. If an order is received, it goes to step E21 in which is determined the available energy and, optionally, the position of the screen if it is not the safety position. We then go to step E60, identical to that of the first embodiment, in which there is a comparison between the available energy and the energy required in order to determine whether the device has enough energy for it. executing a sequence comprising the execution of the command command and a return of the mobile screen to the security position at the end of the execution of the command.
• step E81 information on the energy balance of the device is transmitted to the user, for example using the human-machine interface MMI.
• the information may include an estimate of the time required to obtain the energy required for control movements and return to safety position.
• a next step E82 the order is executed only if it receives a confirmation command. In this case, there is therefore forced execution of the order. The user can override, but was warned in the previous step. The derogation is understandable if the weather conditions are excellent and it is assumed that the energy recharge can take place without a safety movement is necessary.
• the confirmation may result from an analysis of weather forecasts obtained by automatic interrogation on the Internet of a specialized site.
• the two modes of execution of the control method can be combined.
• This command is executed only after confirmation, for example by means of a special press on the control keys.
• a particular operation more energy efficient, can be added to the first embodiment when the mobile screen is at rest in the safety position.
• 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.
• a low level of charge of the energy storage element 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 unreasonable 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 eventual return of the mobile screen in the wound safety position at the end of this execution being less than the energy available in the energy storage element.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
• Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
• Safety Devices In Control Systems (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (4)

• 2006
  • 2006-10-18 FR FR0609149A patent/FR2907612B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-10-16 AT AT07825398T patent/ATE546607T1/de active
  • 2007-10-16 EP EP07825398A patent/EP2078130B1/de active Active
  • 2007-10-16 WO PCT/IB2007/003098 patent/WO2008047215A1/fr active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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