WO2011131915A2

WO2011131915A2 - Device for shutting off a control system bay with proximity sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2011131915A2
Application number: PCT/FR2011/050932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Noel Lefebvre
Original assignee: Navag
Priority date: 2010-04-21
Filing date: 2011-04-21
Publication date: 2011-10-27
Also published as: WO2011131915A3; FR2959267B1; FR2959267A1

Abstract

Device for at least partially shutting off a bay comprising: • a screen (10) supported by a carrier structure (1) and suitable for being mobile between a retraction position (R) and an extension position (E), • motorized manoeuvring means (5, 16) suitable for at least ensuring the displacement of the screen (10) between the retraction position (R) and the extension position (E), • a main control unit (6) suitable at least for commanding the motorized manoeuvring means (5). According to the invention, the mobile screen (10) comprises at least one proximity sensor (C) associated with means of communication (22, 23, 24) with the main control unit (6), and the main control unit is suitable for controlling the manoeuvring means as a function of measurements or information provided by the proximity sensor (C).

Description

Blanking device for a control panel with proximity sensor

[01] The invention relates to the technical field devices or systems at least partial occlusion of a bay, glazed or not, also called curtains or blinds.

[02] The curtains generally comprise a supporting structure, also called rod, which supports a series of slides, at least one of which is operated in horizontal translation by a cable system. The curtains also include at least one screen, most often textile, suspended slides. Thus, the screen is movable horizontally between a folded position and an unfolded position. To facilitate the use of such curtains, the operation of the cable system can be motorized. It is then implemented an electric motor controlled by a control unit wired or wirelessly connected to a control box, comprising buttons on which a user is likely to act.

[03] In the field of blinds, it is known so-called boat blinds which comprise a mobile screen made of textile material, divided into panels which, when the blind is raised, fold over each other. There are also Venetian blinds, including a movable screen consisting of a series of parallel horizontal blades superimposed whose transverse slope is adjustable so as to allow adjustment of the opening level of the blind and thus concealment of the bay.

[04] These two types of blinds generally comprise, as a supporting structure, an upper frame equipped with a winding shaft of at least two suspension cables supporting a mobile load bar between a high position and a low position. . The mobile screen is then interposed between the frame and the load bar so that when the latter is in the high position the screen is folded while the screen is unfolded when the load bar is in the low position. The implementation of a winding shaft allows to consider motorization of the rise and fall of the awning by means of a control unit and an electric motor ensuring the rotation of the shaft.

[05] In the field of blinds it is also known blinds, said vertical blades, whose screen comprises a plurality of strip or parallel vertical blades supported by a carrier structure type curtain rod. Thus, the blades vertical are displaced in horizontal translation during the passage of the blind from its folded state to its unfolded state. The supporting structure generally includes a mechanism for adjusting the transverse orientation of the vertical blades to modulate the degree of opening of the screen. The translation and the orientation of the blades can also be the object of a motorization.

[06] It is also known shading devices called shutters whose screen comprises a series of horizontal blades hinged to each other and coming to wrap around a shaft or mandrel to allow folding or unfolding of the screen.

[07] Such occultation devices are fully satisfactory with respect to their primary function of at least partial occultation of a bay or window. However, when these shading devices are motorized, the control box made available to the user is not always easy to access when it is connected by wire connection to the control unit. Moreover, this housing is likely to be lost when it comes to a wireless control unit, for example wireless or infrared link. In addition, the control buttons associated with this housing are not always very ergonomic which sometimes makes the use of the whole difficult.

[08] Thus, it appeared the need for a new type of curtains or motorized blinds that make it possible to dispense with the use of a control box at least as regards the control of the opening of the screen when the latter is in the unfolded or extended position.

[09] In order to achieve this objective, the invention relates to a device for at least partial concealment of a bay comprising:

a screen supported by a support structure and adapted to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position,

- motorized operating means adapted to ensure at least the displacement of the screen between the retraction position and extension,

a main control unit adapted at least for controlling the motorized operating means.

According to the invention, the occulting device is characterized in that: the mobile screen comprises at least one proximity sensor associated with means of communication with the control unit,

- The control unit is adapted to control the operating means according to measurements or information provided by the proximity sensor.

[10] The incorporation of the proximity sensor in the screen makes the control of the latter much more intuitive than in the case, for example, of a command by means of a remote housing. Indeed, when a user arrives for the first time in the room equipped with the occultation device according to the invention, the screen of the latter being in a state of extension, the user no longer needs to search the location of a possible control unit and may for example control an opening of the screen by approaching the latter or by touching it, which corresponds to a natural or even instinctive approach. Such a mode of operation can be particularly advantageous for implementation in establishments receiving the public such as for example hotels where customers have a short stay in the rooms and must be able to easily control the maneuver of the rooms. curtains or blinds without having to search for the location of the control means for a long time.

[11] Thus in one embodiment of the invention, the main control unit is adapted to control the maneuvering means according to measurements or information provided by the or the proximity sensors from a state stopped or rest maneuvering means. In other words according to this embodiment, the main control unit is adapted to trigger the operation or operation of the operating means according to the information provided by the proximity sensor or sensors on the mobile screen. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to use a proximity sensor fitted to the mobile screen as a means of controlling or controlling the position of the mobile screen in the same way as a control button equipping a wall box. or remote control. Such an operation is completely different from that which would consist in interrupting and / or reversing the operation of the operating means according to obstacle detection information provided by the proximity sensor fitted to the mobile screen in order to ensure the safety closing the screen. [12] In this embodiment, the control unit may for example be adapted to, when a proximity sensor detects an object or a person in its vicinity, control an opening of the mobile screen if the latter is closed and command a closing of the mobile screen if it is open.

[13] According to the invention, the screen regardless of its embodiment, textile veil, blind vertical or horizontal blades or other, carries one or more proximity sensors that can be reported on the screen or on the contrary integrated into this last. The communication between each of the sensors and the main control unit can then be carried out in any suitable manner by means for example of individual wire links, bus-type wired links or even wireless links, wireless or infrared for example.

[14] Any type of proximity sensor may be implemented including one or more sensors selected from one or other of the following types of proximity sensors:

- capacitive sensors,

- infrared sensor,

- ultrasonic sensors.

[15] According to the invention, each proximity sensor can be arranged in different places on the screen. In general, the mobile screen has two extreme edges, which in retracted position of the screen are separated from each other by a minimum distance, and which, in the extended position of the screen, are separated by a maximum distance greater than the minimum distance. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the screen comprises at least one proximity sensor placed between the two extreme edges.

[16] According to an alternative embodiment aimed in particular to allow the control of multiple features, the mobile screen comprises at least two proximity sensors. Each proximity sensor can then be assigned to a given command or feature. The main control unit can also be adapted to determine the function or functions to be controlled according to, for example, activation sequences of the proximity sensors, or measurements made by them. [17] In the context of this variant embodiment, the proximity sensors may be arranged in various geometrical configurations. Thus, the mobile screen may comprise at least two proximity sensors located at a distance from each other in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the mobile screen during its passage from the retracted position to the position extension.

[18] Also in the context of this variant implementing, at the screen, several proximity sensors, the control unit can be adapted to compare the information or measurements from one or more sensors to at least a predetermined signature for, depending on the results of this comparison, control the motorized operating means. Such a mode of operation of the control unit makes it possible to filter and / or disregard measurements or information of proximity sensors that would not result from a voluntary action of a user. Such a mode of operation of the control unit is particularly suitable for producing a gesture control system. Such a system allows from a triggering sequence and / or sensor measurements to identify a predetermined gesture or a predetermined form of gesture performed by the user near or in contact with the screen. This predetermined gesture then corresponds to a particular function or command associated for example with a given operation of the maneuvering means.

[19] In the context of such a mode of operation, the control unit can be adapted for a positive comparison during operation of the operating means, to interrupt the operation of said operating means. Such behavior of the control unit allows a user to easily interrupt a sequence in progress without having to implement an elaborate or predefined gesture. Indeed, it has been observed that in order to stop the sequence of a sequence, a user will instinctively reproduce the same gesture that he has made to trigger the sequence in progress or another gesture which he knows to be recognized to trigger another sequence.

[20] According to a preferred embodiment but not strictly necessary, the main control unit is adapted to compensate for the influence, on each proximity sensor, of the variation of the geometry of the movable screen. Such a mode of embodiment is particularly advantageous when implementing capacitive proximity sensors capable of influencing each other as a function of their distance which varies according to the state of deployment of the mobile screen.

[21] In the context of this embodiment, the device according to the invention may then comprise at least one sensor adapted to allow a determination by the control unit of the deployment state or the geometric configuration of the mobile screen. Such a position or state sensor may be made in any appropriate manner such as, for example, by means of a coding system associated with the operating means of the screen or by means of an ad hoc sensor.

[22] According to an alternative embodiment, the device comprises at least one proximity sensor located outside the mobile screen and the main control unit is adapted to control the motorized operating means based on information received of this outdoor proximity sensor. The implementation of such a proximity sensor located outside the movable screen makes it possible to control, for example, an extension sequence of the screen, when the latter is in a completely folded or wound up state. being inaccessible to the user.

[23] In the same sense and according to another variant embodiment, the device according to the invention may comprise at least one auxiliary control unit which is adapted to communicate with the main control unit and which comprises means for capturing data. operation instruction by a user. The main control unit is then adapted to control the motorized operating means according to information received from the auxiliary control unit.

[24] According to yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the main control unit is adapted to exchange information with an external system. Thus, the device according to the invention can be integrated into a home automation system and receive orders from outside. Similarly, the control unit can be adapted to broadcast to an external system information, instructions and or measurements acquired by means of the sensors carried by the screen which can thus be used as control interface of a different system. that the means of maneuvering the screen itself. [25] A concealment device according to the invention is capable of implementing any type of screen so as to form for example a textile curtain, a roller shutter or a boat blind, a blind with vertical or horizontal blades without this list can be considered as limiting or exhaustive.

[26] According to one embodiment of the device for constituting a vertical or horizontal blade blind, the mobile screen comprises a series of juxtaposed parallel blades including a first blade, a last blade and at least one intermediate blade. At least one of the blades of the mobile screen then comprises at least one proximity sensor.

[27] In a variant of this embodiment, at least one intermediate blade comprises at least one proximity sensor.

[28] According to another variant of this embodiment:

the screen is adapted to allow a modification of the transverse orientation of the blades so as to allow an adjustment of the degree of opening of the screen,

the motorized operating means are adapted to modify the transverse orientation of the blades,

- The main control unit is adapted to control the motorized operating means to change the transverse orientation of the blades.

[29] According to another variant of this embodiment, the device comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor which equips a blade of the mobile screen and which comprises a layer or sheet of a conductive material carried by said blade.

According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a concealment device whose movable screen is a horizontal displacement curtain which comprises a proximity sensor at a vertical edge. The main control unit is then adapted to, depending on the information provided by the proximity sensor, trigger:

if the screen is in the extended position, operation of the maneuvering means for moving the mobile screen towards its retracted position,

if the screen is in the retracted position, operation of the operating means for moving the mobile screen to its extended position. [31] The main control unit may also be adapted to trigger another type of motion sequence and / or to allow a user to interrupt and / or reverse a motion by interacting with the proximity sensor.

[32] Of course, the various features, variations and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

[33] Furthermore, various other features of the invention appear from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of an obscuration device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of an occulting device according to the invention forming a Venetian blind, only some of the blades of the screen of this blind being represented in FIG. 1, the screen being in the position of extension.

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective of the device shown in Figure 1, the screen being in the retracted position.

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of all proximity sensors, implemented by the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, and their connections with the main control unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an occultation arrangement, according to the invention, whose screen moves horizontally such as a double-curtain or a curtain supported and maneuvered by a motorized rod.

In these figures, the common references designate elements common to the various forms and / or variants of embodiment.

[34] An obscuration device of a bay also called blind, shown schematically in FIG. 1 and generally designated by the reference S, comprises a support structure 1 equipped with a winding shaft 2 of at least one and, according to the example shown, two suspension cables 3 supporting at their end opposite the shaft 2 a load bar 4. The winding shaft 2 comprises an electric motor 5 integrated in its hub and controlled by a main control unit 6. Thus, the unit 6 drives the motor 5 to ensure, by the rotation of the shaft 2, a winding or unwinding of the cables 3 so as to move the bar of charge 4 between a low position, as illustrated, in Figure 1 and a high position shown in Figure 2. Of course, it could also be implemented another type of drive with, for example, an electric motor outside the shaft in direct contact with it or via a gearbox.

[35] The concealment device S comprises a mobile screen 10 interposed between the upper frame 1 and the load bar 4. According to the illustrated example, the mobile screen 10 comprises a series of superimposed blades 11 parallel to each other which are The blades 11 are further supported by holding and orientation means in the form of flexible ladders 12 which keep them parallel and spaced from each other when the bar load is in the down position which corresponds to an unfolded state or extension of the screen. Each ladder 12 comprises two vertical strands 13 whose lower end is fixed to the load bar 4 and the upper end to a spreader 14 supported by an orientation shaft 15. The ladders 12 further comprise a series of spacers each of which supports a blade 11. Thus, it is possible by acting on the inclination of the spreaders 14 via the shaft 15 to modify the transverse inclination of the blades 11 and thus the degree of opening or closing. The shading 15 is, according to the illustrated example, associated with an electric motor 16 also controlled by the control unit 6. This mode of adjusting the opening of the screen is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore does not require further description, it being understood that in some applications the same electric motor can ensure the adjustment of the transverse inclination of the blades, the extension and retraction of the screen.

[36] Thus the control unit 6 is adapted to control, on the one hand, the operation of the motor 5 so as to pass the screen 10 of its extension state E, as illustrated in Figure 1 , in its state of retraction R, as illustrated in Figure 2 and vice versa and, secondly, the operation of the motor 16 so as to modify the transverse inclination of the blades 11.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, in order to allow a user to transmit it to the control unit an order or an operating instruction, the screen comprises at least one and, according to the example illustrated, several proximity sensors Cl to Cn each carried by a blade 11. In this case, a blade 11 of two is equipped with a capacitive type proximity sensor C projected electrostatic field.

[38] Thus, each proximity sensor C comprises an antenna 20 constituted by a layer of an electrically conductive material which is carried by the corresponding blade 11 and which extends over a part of the surface of the blade 11. preferred but not strictly necessary, each blade 11 equipped with a proximity sensor C will be made of a non-conductive material. Each antenna 20 is connected to an electronic measurement and signal processing unit 21 which, according to the illustrated example, is carried by the corresponding blade 11 but which could equally well be offset. Each electronic unit 21 implements, for example, a measurement technology as described by the European patent application EP 2,087,591. Each electronic measurement unit 21 and, furthermore, associated with an electronic unit 22 for communication and communication. feeding also carried by the corresponding blade 11. The communication and power supply units 22 are connected in cascade to each other by flexible conductive layers 23, the communication and supply unit 22 of the blade 11 closest to the porteusel structure being connected via a web flexible conductor 24 to the main control unit 6. The units 22, the flexible plies 23 and 24 thus form a power supply bus of the sensors and communication of measurements from the sensors C1 to Cn to the main control unit 6 Such a communication and supply bus makes it possible to address, in time and space, the measurements made by the sensors C1 to Cn.

[39] The system formed by the control unit 6, the measurement units 21 and the associated communication units 22 is then adapted to take into account the rapid changes in the state of the sensors while not being affected by slow variations or drifts in the state of the sensors. For this purpose, the control unit 6 implements self-calibration and drift compensation algorithms as well as detection thresholds, principles well known to specialists in capacitive sensors used in the context of such input interfaces. as for example the touch screens. It is therefore not necessary to describe them here in more detail. It may, however, be noticed that the auto-calibration algorithm is likely to correspond to an accelerated version of the drift compensation algorithm, thus making it possible to quickly find the rest point of the sensors when the device is turned on. Moreover, the drift compensation algorithm, also called background regulation, back-ground regulation in English, is necessary insofar as the drifts of the resting point of the sensors are important, in particular because of factors such as the aging of components, ambient humidity, temperature accumulation of dust on the surface of sensors or blades ...

[40] In order to prevent the sensors from influencing each other too much, the main control unit 6, the measurement units 21 and the communication units 22 are, according to the illustrated example, adapted to A scan-type switched and multiplexed operating mode is implemented so that at any time only one sensor is active and is used to perform a measurement. The frequency of this scan will preferably be greater than 10 Hz and may be for example of the order of 60 Hz to 70 Hz, it being understood that higher frequencies could be implemented.

[41] The system works as follows. When a user approaches his hand or a part of his body with a sensor C this induces a variation of the electrostatic charge of the corresponding antenna 20. This variation is even more important that the hand of the user is close to the sensor. As part of a command gesture, there will be a rapid and significant variation of this load to the extent that the user has substantially approached his hand sensors. This variation, fast and greater than a predetermined threshold, will be recorded by the control unit 6 for each corresponding sensor being timestamped. Insofar as the sensors C1 to Cn are located at a distance from each other in a vertical direction, the control unit 6 has a matrix with a column of sensors enabling it to identify a displacement in the vertical direction: sense, amplitude and speed. The direction of the displacement is given by the direction of activation of the sensors, the amplitude by the number of activated sensors and finally the speed by the speed of activation of the sensors corresponding to the lapse of time separating the activation of the sensors. sensors. There is thus formed a set of motion detection in one direction.

[42] By way of illustration it could be assumed that a user moves his hand from the bottom to the ha, at a distance from the blades 11 less than 10 cm, in the vicinity of the blades carrying the sensors C1 to C6 like this. is indicated by the arrow Fl in FIG. 3. For this example, it will be assumed that a movement of the hand at a distance greater than 10 cm from the sensors induces measurements of a value lower than a predefined detection threshold. In the case of our example, the movement Fl will induce a measurement greater than the detection threshold for successively the sensor C1, then the sensor C2 and so on until the sensor C6. These measurements are received by the main control unit 6 each being assigned to the corresponding sensor with different time references. The main control unit 6 will then compare this vector of six measurements to a prerecorded signature by implementing, for example, an algorithm calculating a correlation coefficient, a Markov chain algorithm or a neural network algorithm. In the case of a positive comparison, the control unit 6 will trigger a corresponding operating sequence, for example a command of the motor 16 in the direction of a rotation of the blades 11. If, while the engine is running, the user redo this movement inducing a positive comparison then the control unit 6 may for example interrupt the current operating sequence.

[43] In the same way, a movement of the user's hand near the same sensors in the opposite direction, from top to bottom, will induce a measurement greater than the detection threshold for successively the sensor C6, then the sensor C5 and so on up to the sensor C1. The measurement vector thus generated can be associated with a second signature for which the control unit 6 will trigger, for example, an operating sequence corresponding to a control of the engine 16 in the direction of a rotation of the blades 11 downwards.

[44] Still on the same principle, a movement of the user's hand near the same sensors, first upwards and then downwards, will first induce a measurement greater than the detection threshold for successively the same. C1 sensor, then the C2 sensor and so on up to the C6 sensor and then a higher measurement at the detection threshold for successively the sensor C6, then the sensor C5 and so on up to the sensor C1. The measurement vector thus generated may be associated with a third signature corresponding, for example, to a control of the motor 5 by the unit 6 in the direction of a retraction of the screen 10.

[45] It should be noted that such a retraction of the screen 10 changes the distance between the sensors and therefore the influence of the sensors on each other. The control unit 6 can then be adapted to compensate for the drift or the alteration of the measurements generated by this modification of the geometry of the screen 10. For this purpose, the device according to the invention may, for example, comprise a position sensor 25 connected to the control unit 6. According to the illustrated example, the position sensor 25 is an encoder associated with the shaft 2 making it possible to determine the state or the position of the screen 10 as a function of the rotation of the shaft 2 and the number of revolutions made by the latter. In the case of the screen 10, it will also be possible to implement a sensor 26 associated with the shaft 15 allowing the main control unit 6 to take into account the transverse orientation or inclination of the blades 11. The modification of the geometry of the screen 10 may be taken into account in various ways, such as, for example, by not taking into account the measurements of the sensors located too close to each other or by proceeding with a correction of the measurements according to the geometry of the screen 10. In this last case, the influence of the deformations geometry of the screen can also be compensated by the algorithm of management of the drifts when the constant of time of the evolution related to the geometrical deformation is less than the time constant of the regulation as well as to the time constant of the variation of the signal induced by the gesture control of the user. It should be noted that the time constant of the signal variation induced by the gesture control is less than the time constant of the drift control. Of course, it may be envisaged to implement a single method of taking into account the geometric deformation of the screen or on the contrary to use several in combination.

[46] When the screen 10 is in its fully retracted position R, it is possible that the sensors it carries are: either too close to each other to allow reliable measurements, or inaccessible to the user so that they can not be used for the control of the movements of the screen 10. In order to overcome this drawback, it may be envisaged to implement at least one proximity sensor 30, said outside because located outside the screen 10. The sensor of outer proximity 30 is then connected to the main control unit 6. The passage of the hand of the user near the sensor 30, induce control by the main control unit 6 of the motor 5 in the direction of a extension of the screen 10.

[47] In the same way, it can also be envisaged to implement a secondary control unit 31 communicating by means of a wireless or wired link with the main control unit 6. The secondary control unit 31 may then include buttons 32 allowing a user to enter his operating orders.

[48] In the example described above, the proximity sensors C are used in a mode that could be called all or nothing depending on whether the user is close enough or too far from the sensors. However, it could be envisaged to use the sensitivity of the sensors C, at the distance of the hand of the user or part of the body of the latter, for depending on this distance induce different behaviors. Thus, the proximity sensors C could be used to distinguish a direct contact with the blade bearing, non-contact movements near the latter. Direct contact with a blade could then be associated with a particular command while motion near the blades, without contact, could be associated with other types of control.

[49] Similarly, in the example illustrated in the figures is described above, it is implemented sensors located at a distance from each other in a direction parallel to the direction, here vertical, displacement of the screen 10 between However, it could also be envisaged to implement sensors arranged in another orientation, for example in a direction perpendicular or oblique with respect to the direction of movement of the screen. Similarly, it could be envisaged to implement sensors arranged in both directions. In the case of a screen comprising blades, such as that described above, it could therefore be envisaged to implement several proximity sensors per blade. [50] As indicated above, the invention can be implemented for other types of movable screens that horizontal blinds. Thus, Figure 4 illustrates the implementation of the invention for a curtain or textile curtain horizontal movement.

[51] The carrier structure 1 then comprises a rail 40, also called rod, which supports a series of slides 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 to which a first 41 at least is maneuvered in horizontal translation by a cable 46 forming a endless loop. The operation of the cable 46 cable is provided by the motor 5 controlled by the main control unit 6 possibly associated with the secondary control unit 31. The assembly comprising the rail 40, the slides 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, the cable 46, the motor 5 and the main control unit 6 form a motorized rod T, a system well known to those skilled in the art, in particular, from the patent applications EP 0 319 036, EP 0 782 833 or EP 1 316 281 so that it is not necessary to describe them here further.

[52] According to exemplary embodiment, the screen 10 is formed by a textile curtain suspended from the slides 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. Thus, the screen is movable horizontally between an extended position E or unfolded, shown in full lines, and a position of retraction R or folded, symbolized in phantom. The extension position E is also called the closed position while the retraction position R is called the open position in relation to the bay hidden or not by means of the screen 10.

[53] The invention proposes to equip a proximity sensor C with the vertical edge 47 of the screen 10, located directly above the first carriage 41. The proximity sensor C is, for example, a sensor capacitive type projected electrostatic field as described above. The sensor C is, according to the illustrated example, located at a distance from the ground and, for example, at a height h greater than or equal to 75 m so as not to be affected by the presence of domestic animals. According to the illustrated example, the sensor C extends to a height H of the order of 2m. Thus, the sensor C defines at the edge 47 a sensitivity zone Z. The sensor C is further connected by a line 48 to the main control unit 6. [54] The shading device according to the invention thus formed operates in the following manner, being considered that the screen 10 is in the unfolded position D and the motor 5 is stopped.

[55] When a user enters or touches the zone of sensitivity Z, the main control unit 6 detects by means of the proximity sensor C this action and triggers the operation of the motor 6 to ensure a displacement of the first carriage 41 in the direction of an opening of the screen 10 to its folded position R.

[56] In a variant, the main control unit 6 can be adapted to trigger the starting of the motor 5 after the user has released the sensitivity zone Z. The control unit can also be adapted to triggering the start of the engine 6 upon detection of contact and stop the operation of the engine 6 if the contact extends beyond a predetermined time for example of the order of a few seconds or even tens of seconds.

[57] If instead the screen 10 is in the folded position R, the main control unit 6 will trigger, in the same way, an operation of the motor 5 to ensure a closing of the screen 10 by a passage to its position unfolded D. It should be noted the main control unit 6 could be adapted to ensure other controls based on the detection provided by the sensor C. Thus, the main control unit to be adapted to interrupt after triggering the operation of the engine 6 by a contact on the detection zone Z, the operation of the engine 6 in the event of a new contact detected by the sensor C. It must also be noted that the screen 10 could comprise more than one proximity sensor vs.

[58] Of course, various other modifications of the invention could be contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A device for at least partial concealment of a bay comprising:

a screen (10) supported by a carrier structure (1) and adapted to be movable between a retraction position (R) and an extension position (E),

- Motorized operating means (5, 16) adapted to at least ensure the displacement of the screen (10) between the retraction (R) and extension (E) positions,

a main control unit (6) adapted at least for controlling the motorized operating means (5),

characterized in that

the mobile screen (10) comprises at least one proximity sensor (C) associated with communication means (22, 23, 24) with the main control unit (6),

- The main control unit is adapted to control the operating means (5, 16) according to measurements or information provided by the proximity sensor (C).

Occulting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the main control unit (6) is adapted to trigger the operation or operation of the operating means (5, 16) according to the information provided by the sensor. proximity (C) equipping the mobile screen (10).

3. Device for concealment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable screen (10) has two extreme edges, which in retracted position of the screen are separated from each other by a Minimum distance and in extended position of the screen are separated by a maximum distance greater than the minimum distance, and in that the screen comprises at least one proximity sensor (C) placed between the two extreme edges.

4. Device obscuration according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable screen comprises at least two proximity sensors (C1 to Cn).

5. Device for occultation according to claim 4, characterized in that the mobile screen comprises at least two proximity sensors (C1, C2) located at a distance from one another in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the movable screen (10) as it moves from its retracted position (R) to its extended position (E).

Occulting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main control unit (6) is adapted to compare the information or measurements from one or more sensors (C, C1 to Cn) to at least one signature predetermined for depending on the results of this comparison control the operating means (5, 16).

An obscuration device according to claim 6, characterized in that the main control unit (6) is adapted for positive comparison during operation of the operating means (5, 16) to interrupt the operation of said operating means (5, 16).

8. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main control unit (6) is adapted to compensate for the influence of the variation of the geometry of the movable screen (10) on each proximity sensor.

9. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is adapted to com des drifts measures due in particular to the following factors: aging components, ambient humidity, temperature, dust accumulation on the surface of the sensors.

10. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one proximity sensor (30) located outside the mobile screen (10) and in that the unit main control unit (6) is adapted to control the motorized operating means according to information received from this external proximity sensor.

11. Device for occultation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

it comprises at least one auxiliary control unit (31) which is adapted to communicate with the main control unit and which comprises means (32) for inputting operating instructions by a user,

and the main control unit (6) is adapted to control the operating means (5, 16) as a function of information received from the auxiliary control unit (31).

12. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main control unit (6) is adapted to exchange information with an external system.

13. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each proximity sensor (C, Cl to Cn) is selected from one or other of the following types of proximity sensors:

- capacitive sensors,

- infrared sensor,

- ultrasonic sensors.

14. Device for concealment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable screen (10) comprises a series of parallel blades (11) including a first blade, a last blade and at least one intermediate blade, l at least one of the blades of the mobile screen (10) comprising at least one proximity sensor (C).

15. Device for concealment according to claim 13, characterized in that:

the mobile screen (10) is adapted to allow a modification of the transverse orientation of the blades so as to allow an adjustment of the degree of opening of the screen (10),

the motorized operating means (16) are adapted to modify the transverse orientation of the blades,

- The main control unit (6) is adapted to control the operating means (16) to change the transverse orientation of the blades.

16. A concealment device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor which equips a blade (11) of the mobile screen (10) and which comprises a layer or sheet ( 20) of a conductive material carried by said blade (11).

Occulting device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the movable screen (10) is a horizontal displacement curtain which comprises a proximity sensor (C) at a vertical edge ( 47) and that the control unit is adapted to, depending on the information provided by the proximity sensor, trigger: if the screen is in the extended position (E), operation of the maneuvering means for moving the movable screen (10) towards its retracted position (R),

- If the screen is in the retracted position (R), an operation of the operating means for moving the movable screen (10) to its extended position (E).