WO2017050810A1

WO2017050810A1 - Sun or privacy protection device and method for controlling a drive device of a sun or privacy protection device

Info

Publication number: WO2017050810A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/072391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christine POHN-YEHIELY; Tal YEHIELY; Eva NARANJO POLO; Pedro PÉREZ DE AYALA RULL
Original assignee: Pohn-Yehiely Christine; Yehiely Tal; Naranjo Polo Eva; Pérez De Ayala Rull Pedro
Priority date: 2015-09-23
Filing date: 2016-09-21
Publication date: 2017-03-30

Abstract

The invention relates to a sun or privacy protection device (1) comprising a sun or privacy protection system (2) which comprises a plurality of lamellas (4-7) that can be moved along a movement direction (10) and relative to one another along the movement direction (10). The sun or privacy protection device (1) comprises at least one sensor (31, 32) which is designed to detect an obstacle positioned along a movement path of the sun or privacy protection system (2). The at least one sensor (31, 32) is arranged on an outermost lamella (7) along the movement direction (10) or on a lower rail of the sun or privacy protection system (2).

Description

Sun or sight protection device and method for controlling a drive device of a sun or sight protection device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sunshades or blinds, venetian blinds, or other sunshades that include a plurality of blades that are movable along a direction of travel and that are slidable relative to one another , The invention relates in particular to such sun or sight protection devices in which an electrically controllable drive device is provided in order to drive the sunscreen or privacy screen.

BACKGROUND

A sunshade or privacy screen is widely used on windows and doors to provide selective control over light. In contrast to a sunshade in which rigid elements are hinged together, in the case of a venetian blind, an external blind or other types of sun or sight protection devices, there are a plurality of louvers which are provided with a drive device via belts or other flexible elements that can only be loaded on a train and / or or connected to each other. In such types of sun or visual protection devices, the plurality of slats along its direction of movement are movable relative to each other, in particular also translationally movable. This places special demands on the detection of a blockage of the movement of the outermost lamella or of the lower rail, which can be caused, for example, by an obstacle which is positioned along the movement path of the lamellae.

To increase user comfort, a sun or screen protector may be provided with an electrical actuator, in particular an electric motor, to move the sun visor between an open and a closed position. In sunscreens or blinds, where adjacent louvers are firmly joined together at least for translatory motions such that blocking the movement of the outermost lamella directly results in increasing the output torque of the electric motor, jamming may occur by monitoring one motor current or another at the electric motor provided sensor. The However, retrofitting such sensors on the installed electric motor is costly and thus increases the cost.

In a Venetian blind, a Venetian blinds or other types of sun or visual protection devices in which a plurality of slats are connected by belts or other only train-resilient flexible elements with a drive device and / or with each other, a blocking of the outermost lamella or lower rail is not directly based an increase in the motor current can be detected. The detection of an obstacle blocking the path of travel of the outermost lamella or bottom rail is provided in the case of a venetian blind, an external blind or other types of sun or sight protection devices in which a plurality of louvers are provided with a drive device via belts or other flexible elements that can only be loaded on a train and / or or interconnected, is a challenge.

The blocking of the outermost lamella or bottom rail in a venetian blind, a venetian blind or other types of sun or visual protection devices, in which a plurality of lamellae are connected by belts or other only train-resilient flexible elements with a drive device and / or with each other, can lead to undesirable consequences to lead. If, for example, an electric motor continues to unwind a band even after blocking the lowermost slat or lower rail, there is a risk that, if the direction of rotation of the electric motor changes, the band will not be rewound correctly and the sunshade or protective screen will be damaged.

SUMMARY

There is a need for sunscreens or screens which offer improvements in terms of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, there is a need for sunscreens or privacy screens that provide improvements in the detection of obstacles. In particular, there is a need for sunscreens or visual protection devices in which a blockage of an outermost lamella or bottom rail can be reliably detected even if several lamellae of the sunscreen or privacy shield are protected by flexible elements that can only be loaded by tension such as belts with a drive device and / or. or are connected to each other, so that the lamellae along a trajectory translationally against each other movable, in particular translationally to each other to be moved.

According to embodiments, it is provided to provide at least one sensor on an outermost lamella or bottom rail of a sunshade or privacy screen, the lamellae thereof along a path of movement translationally to each other to be moved when one of the slats is blocked by an obstacle. The at least one sensor may be in communication with a controller to signal a detected obstacle and to allow control of a motor or other actuator depending on the detection of the obstacle. The at least one sensor may include an inertial sensor, an active infrared sensor device that includes a source of infrared light radiation, and / or an ultrasonic sensor that is disposed on the outermost louver or bottom rail.

A sun or screen protector according to an embodiment comprises a sunshade or blinds, in particular a blind or a Venetian blind, which comprises a plurality of fins which are movable along a direction of movement and which are displaceable relative to one another along the direction of movement. The sun or screen protector includes at least one sensor configured to detect an obstacle positioned along a path of movement of the sunshade or privacy screen, the at least one sensor being located on a louver furthest along the direction of travel or on a bottom rail of the sunshade or screen is arranged.

By using at least one sensor disposed on the outermost lamella or the bottom rail of the sunshade or screen, possible obstacles can be reliably detected as soon as or before the outermost lamella or the bottom rail is blocked by the obstacle.

The detection of the obstacle is possible even if the blocking of the outermost lamella or the lower rail does not react directly on the adjacent lamella, because the lamellae are displaceable against each other along the direction of movement. The detection of the obstacle is possible in particular even if the lamellae and optionally the lower rail are only coupled to flexible elements which can only be loaded on tension, such as, for example, tapes, cords or other flexible elements with a drive device and / or one another. An output signal of the at least one sensor can be evaluated by a control device and used for the automatic control of an electric motor or another actuator. Alternatively or additionally, the control device can also actuate an optical or audible warning display, which allows the user to recognize that the movement of the outermost lamella or lower rail is blocked. Even one custom mechanical or electronic control of the movement of the sunscreen or visor may be performed in response to the warning signal so as to reduce the risk of damage when blocking movement of the outermost louver or bottom rail. The at least one sensor may include a first sensor configured to detect a tilt of the outermost louver or the bottom rail. Thereby, a further closing movement of the sun or privacy screen in response to a blockage of the outermost lamella can be stopped automatically as soon as a tilting of the outermost lamella or lower rail is detected. Alternatively or additionally, an automatic control of an electric motor or other actuator can take place in such a way that the sunshade or sight protection is moved back to a position in which the outermost lamella or lower rail is no longer tilted in response to the detection of the tilting. The risk of damage is thereby further reduced. The use of the first sensor detecting a tilt allows the detection of obstacles, even if they are not recognizable by their IR spectrum, for example, as is the case for body parts due to body heat.

The first sensor may be configured to detect a tilt about an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel and a longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail. Thereby, a detection of a typical fault, in which a not exactly centered below the outermost lamella or lower rail positioned obstacle is present, reliable and easy.

The first sensor may alternatively or additionally be configured to detect a tilt about the longitudinal axis of the outermost lamella or the bottom rail. As a result, the first sensor can be used to detect further errors. In addition, the detection of such tilting about the longitudinal axis of the outermost lamella or the bottom rail can also be used to control, for example, the tilt of the lamellae and thereby the extent to which the sun or screen is closed or opened by tilting the louvers to regulate.

The first sensor may be an inertial sensor. The first sensor may include an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope. This can be implemented in a robust and cost-effective manner, a sensor that detects an obstacle based on a tilting of the outermost lamella or bottom rail. The first sensor may include two or more active ultrasonic sensors spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail at the outermost louver or bottom rail. The two or more active ultrasonic sensors may be configured to emit ultrasonic waves along a direction of movement of the sunscreen or privacy screen to detect obstacles positioned along the path of movement.

The at least one sensor may include a second sensor that is an active sensor. If both a first sensor for detecting a tilting and a second sensor with a different detection principle are provided, both the first sensor and the second sensor can be designed as active sensors. The use of the second sensor, which is designed as an active sensor, allows the detection of obstacles, even if they are not recognizable for example by their IR spectrum, as is the case for body parts due to the body heat.

The second sensor may include an infrared sensor configured to detect an infrared light beam directed parallel to the outermost louver or bottom rail. As a result, obstacles positioned below the outermost lamella or lower rail can be detected even if they are not positioned directly under the infrared sensor. Reliable detection of obstacles along the width of the outermost lamella or bottom rail can be realized with little use of sensor electronics.

An infra-red source may be attached to the outermost louver or bottom rail configured to generate an infrared light beam directed parallel to the outermost louver or bottom rail. The infrared source together with the infrared sensor forms an active sensor unit. The infrared sensor and the infrared source may be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the outermost lamella or lower rail.

The second sensor may include an ultrasonic sensor. At least two ultrasonic sensors may be disposed at opposite ends of the outermost louver or bottom rail to detect, for example, tilting of the outermost lamella or bottom rail and / or to detect obstacles before they come in contact with the outermost lamella or bottom rail.

The at least one sensor may comprise a radio interface for communication with a control device or may be coupled to such a radio interface. The sun or sight protection device can be set up to generate a radio signal generated in dependence on an output signal of the at least one sensor in order to transmit information about the output signal of the sensor over a radio link to the control device. If multiple sensors are present, each of the multiple sensors may have its own radio interface for communication with the controller. Alternatively, the plurality of sensors may be coupled to the radio interface via a multiplexer.

The radio interface may be configured for Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, 3GPP M2M communication, or other communication standards.

The sunshade or vision protection device may include a controller that includes an interface for receiving signals from the at least one sensor.

The sun or sight protection device may comprise a drive device for driving the sun or sight protection. The control device may be configured to control the drive device as a function of the signals received by the at least one sensor.

The controller may be configured to cause, in response to the signals received from the at least one sensor, the output of an audible or visual warning signal to alert the user that the trajectory of the sunscreen or screen is blocked.

The control means may be arranged to control the drive means in response to a tilt of the outermost louver or bottom rail detected by the at least one sensor so as to retract the sunshade or privacy shield to a position where the outermost lamella or treads Lower rail is aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement.

The controller may be configured to make sensor fusion from the outputs of a plurality of sensors disposed on the outermost louver or bottom rail. The sensor device can be set up to evaluate the signals transmitted in radio signals from a plurality of sensors in a logical OR operation such that the detection of an obstacle by only one sensor is sufficient to cause a stop and optionally at least a brief reverse movement of the drive device , The sensor device can be set up to detect from the radio signals of a plurality of sensors if one of the sensors is impaired in its functionality. For example, the control device can be set up to detect a malfunction of an infrared sensor based on a signal transmitted by an inertial sensor, which does not indicate tilting of the outermost lamella or bottom rail, even before reaching the position in which the outermost lamella or bottom rail has no obstacle Tilting has detected an obstacle. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device can detect if a battery of one or more of the sensors is so weak that reliable detection of obstacles is no longer possible. In this case, in a fall-back procedure those or those sensors can be used to detect obstacles whose battery status is still sufficient.

The drive device may comprise an electric motor. The drive means may be arranged to unwind at least one flexible element connected to the outermost fin or the bottom rail to close the sunshade or blinds and to wind up to open the sunshade or privacy screen.

The multiple fins of the sun or privacy screen can be connected to each other via a flexible element or a plurality of flexible elements. The one or more flexible elements can be designed so that they can only be loaded on train. The plurality of slats can be coupled only by resilient only to train flexible elements with a drive device and / or with each other.

The at least one sensor can be attached directly to the outermost lamella or the lower rail. The at least one sensor can be structurally integrated into the outermost lamella or the lower rail. The at least one sensor can be coupled in a different way, for example via a holding device, rigidly with the outermost lamella or the lower rail.

The controller may be a smart home control device or may be coupled to such a smart home control device. The device for intelligent home control can perform other functions in addition to the control or regulation of sun or visual protection devices, such as the control or regulation of security systems, household appliances, a heater or lighting devices. The controller may be configured to collect information about the operation of the sunscreen or visor. Examples of such information include one or more of a number of operations of the sunshade or sighting device, a number or a portion of the actuations in which a blockage has been detected and / or an intervention by the control device has been made to eliminate tilting of the outermost lamella, or other statistics derived from such quantities. The collected information may be stored by the controller along with date and optionally time stamps. The controller may include a memory for non-volatile storage of the statistical information obtained by monitoring the operation of the sunscreen or privacy device. The controller may be configured to transmit the statistical information to a home controller.

The controller may be configured to communicate via a wireless interface directly or indirectly with terminals, such as mobile phones, tablets or other portable or stationary computers or other mobile terminals. The controller may be configured to transmit status messages about the presence of obstacles via the wireless interface to cause a display on the mobile terminal. The control device can be controlled via the wireless interface. According to a further embodiment, a method for controlling a drive device of a sun or sight protection device is specified, wherein the drive device for causing a movement of a sun or visual protection, in particular a blind or a Venetian blind, is set up. The sun or sight shield comprises a plurality of blades which are movable along a direction of movement and which are displaceable relative to one another along the direction of movement. The method includes detecting an obstacle along a trajectory of the sun or screen with at least one sensor disposed on an outermost fin or bottom rail, and controlling the drive depending on an output of the at least one sensor. Other features that may be implemented in methods of embodiments correspond to the additional features of devices of embodiments.

The method may be practiced by the sun or screen protector according to one embodiment. Devices and methods according to embodiments allow the safe and cost-effective detection of obstacles even in a sun or sight protection device, the lamellae are connected by only resilient to train flexible elements with a drive device. The devices and methods are also suitable for easy retrofitting with already installed blinds, venetian blinds or other visual or sun protection devices.

The features and features set out above, which are described below, can be used not only in the corresponding combinations explicitly set out, but also in other combinations or isolated, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above-described characteristics, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they will be achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a sun or sight protection device according to one embodiment. FIG.

FIG. Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sun or sight protection device according to one embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a sun or sight protection device according to one embodiment. FIG.

FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a sun or sight protection device according to one embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a control device of a sun or sight protection device according to an embodiment. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the figures, like reference characters designate the same or similar elements. The figures are schematic representations of various embodiments of the invention. Elements shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Rather, the various elements shown in the figures are reproduced in such a way that their function and purpose will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Connections and couplings between functional units and elements illustrated in the figures may also be implemented as an indirect connection or coupling. A connection or coupling may be implemented by wire or wireless.

While embodiments are described below in the context of blinds, the embodiments may also be applied to other solar or privacy screens. For example, slats of a sun or privacy screen can also be mounted so that they are not vertically, but horizontally movable. In this case, the outermost lamella is the outermost lamella along a guide rail, which is offset horizontally to further lamellae.

While embodiments are described below in the context of sun or privacy devices having a drive means, in particular an electric motor, the embodiments can also be used in sun or privacy devices with other actuators or manually operated sun or visual protection devices, in the latter case outputs from For example, sensors can be used to generate visual or audible warnings to the user.

As will be described in more detail below, there is provided a sunshade or visor device in which a plurality of louvers are translatable relative to each other along a direction of travel. An outermost lamella or lower rail in the direction of movement may be coupled to a drive device only via one or more flexible elements. The flexible elements or the flexible elements can only be claimed in tension, so that blocking the outermost lamella or lower rail does not lead to an increase in the motor torque of the electric motor of the drive device. One or more sensors are arranged to detect an obstacle on the outermost lamella or bottom rail. Combinations of different sensor techniques, such as an inertial sensor and a Infrared sensor, can be used to facilitate reliable detection of obstacles.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a sun or sight protection device 1. The sun or sight protection device 1 comprises a sun or sight protection 2. The sun or sight protection 2 comprises a plurality of lamellae 4-7. At an outer end in the direction of movement 10 may also be arranged a lower rail, which differs in material and in particular in their rigidity of the slats 4-7. While in the figures embodiments are shown in which one or more sensors 31, 32 are arranged on a direction of movement 10 outermost lamella 7, the sensors 31, 32 may also be arranged on a lower rail, if the sun or privacy shield 2, a lower rail than the Has in the direction of the outermost element.

The sun or sight protection device 1 may comprise further elements, for example an upper rail or receptacle 3, in which a drive device for the sun or sight protection 2 is partially or completely received. The upper rail or receptacle 3 can also receive a control device 20 which will be described in more detail below.

The lamellae 4-7 and, if present, the lower rail are movably mounted so that they are translationally displaceable along a direction of movement 10. In addition, the slats 4-7 can be tilted about their longitudinal axes. Optionally, one or more guides 1 1 can be provided, which define a movement path of the slats 4-7. Especially with a blind or an external blind such guides 1 1 are not essential. The trajectory and direction of movement 10 may be defined simply by the vector of gravity in a blind or a Venetian blind. At least the outermost in the direction of movement 10 lamella is adjustable via a drive device. The drive device may comprise an electric motor 9 or another actuator. As will be described in more detail below, the sun or sight protection device 1 is arranged to control the electric motor 9 or other actuator in response to output signals from the sensor or sensors 31, 32 attached to the outermost blade 7 or lower rail. Instead of or in addition to an electronically or electrically controllable drive device may also be provided a mechanically operable by a user drive mechanism. The output signals of the sensors 31, 32 can be used in this case to To generate warning signals, if damage to the drive mechanism due to the blocking of the trajectory of the outermost lamella 7 threatens.

The outermost blade 7 or lower rail is coupled via flexible elements 8 to the drive device. The flexible elements 8 can be designed so that they can only be loaded on train. Blocking of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail in this case can not directly lead to an increase in the output torque on the electric motor 9 or on a mechanically actuatable drive mechanism, so that there is the risk of damage if the flexible elements 8 are rolled up again or their free length otherwise reduced. The flexible elements 8 may be configured to be windable and unwindable to move the sun or privacy screen between different positions. The flexible elements 8 can also couple the slats 4-7 with each other. Since the flexible elements 8 can only be loaded with tension, the coupling via the flexible elements allows adjacent lamellae to be movable relative to one another in the direction of movement 10.

According to exemplary embodiments, the sun or sight protection device 1 has at least one sensor 31, 32 which is arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or the lower rail in the direction of movement. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may be configured to detect an obstacle positioned along the trajectory of the outermost louver or bottom rail, as will be described in greater detail. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may be attached as a separate structural unit to the outermost lamella 7 or the lower rail. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may be connected to the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail via a holding device which is designed for a reversibly releasable attachment to the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. This allows a simple retrofitting of the at least one sensor 31, 32 on an already installed sun or sight protection. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may be structurally integrated into the outermost lamella or the lower rail, so that it is not recognizable from the outside. This improves the aesthetic appearance and protects the at least one sensor 31, 32 from damage. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may have a radio interface for wireless communication with a control device 20. The radio interface, via which signals from the at least one sensor 31, 32 are transmitted to the control device 20, can be set up for direct communication with the control device 20, as schematically represented by the radio links 33, 34. The radio interface over which the At least one sensor transmits signals to the controller 20 may be configured for Bluetooth (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication (BLE), Wi-Fi, 3GPP M2M communication, or other communication standards. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may be arranged to transmit data to the controller 20, which is a result of obstacle detection, other information about the presence or absence of an obstacle. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may optionally be arranged to transmit data to the control device 20, which may represent status information of the corresponding sensor 31, 32, for example battery status information or a health status of the sensor.

The control device 20 has a radio interface 21 for receiving signals from the at least one sensor. The control device 20 may be configured to control a drive device of the sun or sight protection device 1. For example, the control device 20 may have a further interface 22 in order to drive the electric motor 9 or another actuator directly or indirectly. The further interface 22 can alternatively or additionally be used to control control signals with which a stop of the drive device can be initiated. The further interface 22 can alternatively or additionally be used to control control signals with which the direction of rotation of the electric motor can be determined.

As will be described in more detail, the controller 20 may be configured to stop, in response to an obstacle detected by the at least one sensor 31, 32, at least one movement of the sunscreen or privacy screen performed immediately prior to the detection of the obstacle. The controller 20 may optionally be configured to cause movement of the sun visor or screen in response to an obstacle detected by the at least one sensor 31, 32, in which the outermost louver 7 or bottom rail is opposite to that executed upon detection of the obstacle Movement direction is moved. As a result, for example, an undesired tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail can be corrected in order to reduce the risk of damaging the flexible elements 8.

Alternative or additional functions may be performed by the controller 20. For example, the controller 20 may also cause the issuance of an audible or visual warning to the user informing the user of the existing obstacle. Such a warning can also be issued when the drive mechanism for sun or sight protection is purely mechanical and there is no electric motor. For example, the controller 20 may be configured to communicate via a wireless interface directly or indirectly with terminals, such as mobile phones, tablets, or other portable or stationary computers or other mobile terminals. The controller 20 may be configured to transmit status messages about the presence of obstacles via the wireless interface to cause a display on the mobile terminal. The control device 20 can be controllable via the wireless interface, so that the wireless interface can also be used for user-controlled activation of the drive mechanism. The wireless interface may also be the radio interface 21, for example if it is set up for communication according to 3GPP M2M or Wi-Fi.

The controller 20 may be an intelligent home control device or may be coupled to such a smart home control device. The device for intelligent home control, in addition to the control or regulation of the sun or visual protection device 1 perform other functions, such as the control or regulation of security systems, household appliances, a heater or lighting devices.

The sensor or sensors 31, 32, which are arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail, can have different configurations. In particular, at least two sensors 31, 32 may be arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. The at least two sensors 31, 32 may have different principles of action. For example, a first sensor 31 may be provided, which is arranged to detect a tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail after contact with an obstacle. Alternatively or additionally, a second sensor 32 may be provided, which is set up to detect an obstacle before contact with the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail, on which the second sensor 32 is arranged. For this purpose, the second sensor 32 may be configured as an active sensor which forms, for example, a barrier of electromagnetic radiation below the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. Interruption of the barrier by an obstacle triggers detection of the obstacle. By designing as an active sensor device, which comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation, for example an infrared light source, it is also possible to detect obstacles which do not emit heat radiation. With multiple sensors 31, 32, the controller 20 may perform further processing steps to make sensor fusion for improved obstacle detection. For example, a logical OR operation can be used, so that the control device 20 already closes the presence of an obstacle if only one or both of the sensors 31, 32 detect an obstacle. The control device 20 may alternatively or additionally detect malfunctions of one or both of the sensors 31, 32, for example if an infrared sensor detects an obstacle, but no tilting occurs with continued movement of the outermost blade 7 or lower rail. In such a case, in a fall-back procedure, the controller 20 may execute the obstacle detection based on the output of only one of the sensors 31, 32 whose output is detected as being uncorrupted. Such scenarios can occur, for example, in the event of contamination in the optical beam path of the infrared sensor. The controller 20 may alternatively or additionally use status information from one or both of the sensors 31, 32, for example, if a sensor reports low battery. In such a case, the controller 20 may perform the obstacle detection based on the output of only one of the sensors 31, 32 whose battery level is still sufficient in a fall-back procedure.

The control device 20 can be set up to collect information about the operation of the sun or sight protection device 1. Examples of such information include one or more of a number of actuations of the sunshade or privacy device 1, a number or a portion of the actuations in which a lock is detected and / or an intervention by the control device 20 to correct tilting of the outermost slat or Or other statistical data derived from such quantities. The control device 20 can be set up to generate statistical data, which contains information about a number or a portion of those actuations in which there is one, depending on an output signal of the at least one sensor 31, 32 during a plurality of actuations of the sun or sight protection device 1 Tilting of the bottom rail or outermost blade comes.

The controller 20 may include a memory for non-volatile storage of the statistical information obtained by monitoring the operation of the sun or visor device 1. The controller 20 may be configured to store the collected information along with date and / or time stamps. The at least one sensor 31, 32 can use different measurement techniques, as will be described in more detail below. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may comprise an inertial sensor. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may comprise an infrared sensor. The at least one sensor 31, 32 may comprise an ultrasonic sensor. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sun or sight protection device 1. FIG. Elements or devices that may correspond in design and / or function to elements or devices described with reference to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 denotes.

The sun or sight protection device 1 has at least one first sensor 31, which is designed as an inertial sensor and which is arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. The inertial sensor may be so mounted on or integrated into the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail as to be tilted together with the outermost lamina 7 or lower rail in a reference coordinate system.

The inertial sensor may be an acceleration sensor or include an acceleration sensor. The inertial sensor may be a gyroscope or comprise a gyroscope. The inertial sensor may include a radio interface for wireless communication with the controller 20, as described with reference to FIG. 1 has been described.

The inertial sensor may be configured to detect a tilt of the outermost louver or bottom rail at least about an axis 12 that is perpendicular to both the direction of travel 10 and a longitudinal axis 1 1 of the outermost lamella 7 or bottom rail on which the inertial sensor is located. In this way, the inertial sensor can reliably detect obstacles that lead to a tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail about the axis 12 or about an axis parallel thereto, as is the case for most obstacles. Thus, an obstacle 19 can cause tilting, which can be detected by the inertial sensor and reported to the control device 20.

The inertial sensor may optionally be additionally configured to detect a tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail about the longitudinal axis 1 1 of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail on which the inertial sensor is arranged. This allows the first sensor 31 to be used, for example, for regulating the tilting angle of the slats 4-7.

In response to a detected by the inertial sensor tilting of the outermost blade 7 or lower rail, the controller 20 via the interface 22 automatically Steer signal with which the outermost blade 7 or lower rail is moved back into a position in which it is no longer tilted about the axis 12. The signal received from the inertial sensor may be evaluated by the controller 20 in a closed loop to determine up to which position the outermost louver 7 or bottom rail is to be moved back. Alternatively, the controller 20 may also simply initiate a predefined lift movement of the outermost louver 7 or lower rail to at least reduce tilting.

As an alternative or in addition to an inertial sensor, an electromagnetic radiation sensor, for example an infrared sensor, may be arranged on the outermost lamella or lower rail, as described with reference to FIG. 3 is described further.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a sun or sight protection device 1. Elements or devices that may correspond in design and / or function to elements or devices described with reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 denotes.

The sun or sight protection device 1 has, as an alternative or in addition to the first sensor 31, which is an inertial sensor, a second sensor 35. The second sensor 35 may be an infrared sensor. For safe obstacle detection, an active infrared sensor device may be used, whose source 36 for infrared light is likewise arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. The source 36 and the second sensor 35 may be disposed in opposite end portions of the lowermost fin 7 or lower rail. The second sensor 35 may be configured to detect a beam 37 of electromagnetic radiation, which is generated parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail, and which is generated by the source 36. The beam 37 extends adjacent to and spaced from the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail on that side in which the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail moves during unwinding of the flexible elements 8. For a Venetian blind or a Venetian blind, which allows a vertical slat movement, the beam 37 can be parallel to the longitudinal axis 1 1 and below the bottom plate 7 or the lower rail. Through the source 36 and the second sensor 35, a barrier of electromagnetic radiation is formed along the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. An interruption in the beam path, as caused by an obstacle 19, is detected by the second sensor 35 and detected either by the second sensor 35 itself or by the control device 20 as the presence of an obstacle. The second sensor 35 may be configured to transmit a signal to the control device 20 only in certain cases in order to reduce the signal transmission on the radio link 34. For example, a signal transmission always take place when an obstacle 19 is detected. The detection of the obstacle triggers the signal transmission via the radio link 34. If no obstacle is detected, a corresponding signal, optionally with status information about the second sensor, may be transmitted at predetermined time intervals or in response to an interrogation by the controller 20.

While the source 36 may be configured to generate infrared light and the second sensor 35 may be configured to detect infrared light, other configurations may be used. Advantageously, the source 36 and the second sensor 35 are arranged for operation with electromagnetic waves whose frequency is not in the visible range of the optical spectrum.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second sensor 35 designed as an infrared sensor can be combined with a first sensor 31 designed as an inertial sensor. The inertial sensor 31 can detect obstacles even if they do not overlap the beam path between the source 36 and the second sensor 35. The second sensor 35 can detect obstacles before they lead to a tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. As with reference to FIG. 1 has been described and will be described in more detail below, a sensor fusion of the output signals of the first sensor 31 and the second sensor 35 may result in more reliable obstacle detection, sensor malfunction detection, and / or fall-back in the event of a low battery condition one of the sensors are running.

While in FIG. 3 an active sensor, for example an infrared sensor, is provided in addition to an inertial sensor, the inertial sensor 31 can also be dispensed with in further exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a sun or sight protection device 1. Elements or devices that may correspond in design and / or function to elements or devices described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 denotes.

The sun or sight protection device 1 comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor 31, 32, which is arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. Several ultrasonic sensors 31, 32 may be arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. For example, at least two ultrasonic sensors may be provided, wherein a first ultrasonic sensor 31 is arranged in an end region and a second ultrasonic sensor 32 in an opposite end region of the outermost blade 7 or lower rail. Each of the ultrasonic sensors 31, 32 may be configured to emit ultrasonic energy at least along the direction of movement 10. For example, the first ultrasonic sensor 31 can emit ultrasonic radiation 38, and the second ultrasonic sensor 32 can emit ultrasonic radiation 39. Reflected ultrasound can be detected in each case. In this way, the ultrasonic sensors 31, 32 each measure a distance to a bottom 18. The at least two ultrasonic sensors 31, 32 can thereby also detect a tilting of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail, which is caused by an obstacle. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the ultrasound sensors 31, 32 can be set up to emit ultrasound radiation in a spatial region which can be, for example, fan-shaped. In this way, an ultrasonic barrier below the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail can be formed, in which obstacles can be detected by reflection of ultrasound.

While exemplary sensors have been described, other sensors may be attached to the outermost lamella 7 or bottom rail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method 50. The method 50 may be performed by the controller 20 in response to signals transmitted from the at least one sensor. The method 50 can be combined with the sun or sight protection device 1 according to one of the embodiments, in particular according to one of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are executed.

At step 51, the control device controls a drive device of the sun or sight protection device 1, for example, to perform a closing operation in which the outermost plate 7 or lower rail translationally moves away from the upper rail 3. The closing operation may be in response to a user input that may be made to an input element such as a switch or that may be wirelessly or wireline transferred from a control panel to the controller, or as part of a fully or partially automatic intelligent home controller.

At step 52, the controller evaluates signals received from the at least one sensor. The signals can be received over a radio connection, for example according to Bluetooth, BLE, 3GPP M2M, 3GPP device-to-device (3GPP D2D), Wi-Fi or other communication standards. The signals may include information indicating whether the corresponding sensor has detected an obstacle. The signals may include information that allows the controller to determine if an obstacle is present. The evaluation may include decoding received data packets received by the at least one sensor via a radio interface. If a plurality of sensors are disposed on the outermost lamella 7 or the lower rail, the controller may evaluate signals from each of the plurality of sensors unless the signals of one or all of the sensors are used in a fall-back procedure to detect an obstacle.

At step 53, the controller may determine if an obstacle has been detected. For this purpose, a tilt of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail can be monitored, which is detected by an inertial sensor. Alternatively or additionally, an interruption of a beam of electromagnetic radiation detected by a sensor for electromagnetic radiation can be evaluated. Alternatively or additionally, the output signal of at least one ultrasonic sensor can be evaluated.

The control device can perform a sensor fusion in which the signals transmitted by a plurality of sensors are evaluated. An obstacle can be detected, for example, if only one of the conditions occurs, that the inertial sensor detects a tilt or an infrared sensor detects an obstacle next to the outermost lamella or the lower rail.

If no obstacle is detected, the process returns to evaluation of sensor signals at step 52.

At step 54, if an obstacle is detected, the controller 20 may cause further movement of the outermost louver 7 or bottom rail in the current direction of travel to be omitted. For this purpose, the drive device can be stopped. Alternatively or additionally, a backward movement can also be initiated, as will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method 60. The method 60 may be performed by the controller 20 in response to signals transmitted by the at least one sensor. The method 60 may be used with the sun or sight protection device 1 according to one of the embodiments, in particular according to one of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are executed. Steps like under Referring to FIG. 5 can be implemented are denoted by the same reference numerals.

After obstacle detection, in the method 60, optionally, movement of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail opposite to that which the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail performed upon detection of the obstacle may be initiated.

At step 55, it may be determined whether the outermost sipe or bottom rail has a tilt. In particular, it can be determined whether the outermost lamella or lower rail has a tilt about an axis which is perpendicular to the direction of movement and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost lamella or lower rail. The tilting can be detected from one of an inertial sensor or transmitted from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors signals. If the outermost louver or bottom rail has no tilt about an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail, the procedure for driving the drive device may be terminated at step 56.

At step 57, an undesirable tilt correction procedure may be initiated if an obstruction has caused the outermost louver or bottom rail to tilt about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail. For this purpose, the control device 20, the drive means to control so that a movement of the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail is initiated, which is opposite to that movement, which performed the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail upon detection of the obstacle. For example, an electric motor may be controlled so that the direction of rotation of its motor shaft turns over to perform instead of a downward movement of the outermost blade 7 or lower rail now an upward movement.

At step 58, it may be checked whether the tilt about the axis perpendicular to the direction of movement and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail is eliminated. The tilting can be determined from a transmitted from an inertial or from several ultrasonic sensors signals and continue to be monitored either continuously or intermittently. If the outermost louver or bottom rail still has tilt about the axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail, the procedure may return to step 57 to to reduce the tilting further. If the outermost louver or bottom rail no longer has a tilt about the axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outermost louver or bottom rail, then at step 59 the drive device may be stopped. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method 70. The method 70 may be performed by the controller 20 in response to signals transmitted by the at least one sensor. The method 70 can be used with the sun or sight protection device 1 according to one of the embodiments, in particular according to one of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are executed. At step 71, obstacle detection and corresponding drive of a drive device may be responsive to signals received from a plurality of sensors disposed on the outermost louver 7 or bottom rail. The evaluation may, for example, as with reference to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, so that the drive means is stopped and optionally a backward movement is initiated in response to the detection of an obstacle by only one or more of the sensors located at the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. Alternatively, or in addition to driving the drive means, the controller 20 may cause the issuance of a warning signal to inform a user of the obstacle. At step 72, the controller 20 may check whether a fall-back procedure is to be performed that no longer evaluates the signals from a plurality of sensors located at the outermost louver 7 or bottom rail to determine if there is an obstacle.

The initiation of the fall-back procedure may be dependent on status information transmitted from the plurality of sensors to the controller 20. For example, if a sensor transmits status information indicating a low battery level, the controller may perform obstacle detection so that low battery level sensors are no longer considered.

The initiation of the fall-back procedure may alternatively or additionally be dependent on faulty behavior of a sensor, which is detected by the control device 20 itself. For example, if an infrared sensor or other electromagnetic radiation sensor located at the outermost louver or bottom rail often reports obstacles without causing the outermost louver to tilt or lower rail, the controller 20 may detect an error of the infrared sensor. Such an error may be caused, for example, by contamination or misalignment between source 36 and sensor 35.

If the fall-back procedure is initiated, in which the obstacle detection is carried out so that one or more of the sensors remain unconsidered, a corresponding warning can be issued. For example, the controller 20 may cause the user to issue a warning indicating that the battery level in one of the sensors is too low and disregarded in obstacle detection, and / or that one of the sensors is showing erroneous behavior. The cause for the initiation of the fall-back procedure can also be output.

If the fall-back procedure is not initiated, the obstacle detection at step 71 may further take into account the signals transmitted by all of the multiple sensors at the outermost lamella 7 or bottom rail.

At step 73, upon initiation of the fall-back procedure, the obstacle detection may be performed so that one or more of the sensors is disregarded. For example, signals from a low-battery sensor and / or a sensor for which the controller has detected erratic behavior may be disregarded when making decisions about stopping the drive and, optionally, a reverse motion of the controller 20. Upon initiation of the fall-back procedure, the controller 20 may continue to drive the drive as described with reference to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 control, but the obstacle detection is independent of output signals of at least one of the sensors, which is arranged on the outermost blade 7 or lower rail. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a controller 20 according to an embodiment. The control device 20 may in the sun or sight protection device 1 according to one of the embodiments, in particular according to one of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, to be used. The control device 20 can be used to carry out a method according to an exemplary embodiment, in particular for carrying out the method described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 described method.

The controller 20 includes an interface 21 for receiving signals from the at least one sensor. The interface 21 may be a radio interface. The Interface 21 may also be used for communication with a mobile terminal through which the user can control the sun or privacy device 1, or with intelligent home control.

The controller 20 may include a demodulation and / or decoding circuit 23. The demodulation and / or decoding circuit 23 may be configured to demodulate and / or decode signals transmitted from the at least one sensor to obtain information as to whether the corresponding sensor has detected an obstacle. The signals may include data containing an output signal of the corresponding sensor and optionally status information. This information can be transmitted digitally and in particular packet-based.

The control device 20 may include a sensor evaluation circuit 24. The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may comprise a semiconductor integrated circuit. The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may include a controller, a microcontroller, a processor, a microprocessor, an application specific specialty circuit (ASIC), another semiconductor integrated circuit, or a combination of a plurality of such integrated circuits.

The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may include an obstacle detection module 25. The obstacle detection module 25 may be configured to evaluate the signals received from the at least one sensor to determine if an obstacle has been detected. It can be made a logical combination of the signals of multiple sensors. For example, the obstacle detection module 25 may determine that an obstacle has been detected if only one of a plurality of sensors provides an output indicative of the presence of an obstacle.

The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may include a tilt detection module 26. The tilt detection module 26 may be configured to evaluate signals from one inertial sensor or from a plurality of distance sensors to determine if the outermost blade 7 or bottom rail is tilted about an axis 12 perpendicular to the direction of travel 10 and to the longitudinal axis 11 of the outermost ones Slat 7 or lower rail is. The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may be configured to use the tilt detected by the tilt detection module 26 in a closed loop to determine how far the outermost lamella 7 or bottom rail needs to be moved back until it again has an orientation in which the longitudinal axis 1 1 is directed perpendicular to the direction of movement 10. The sensor evaluation circuit 24 may include a module for initiating a fall-back procedure 27. The case-back initiation module 27 may be configured to evaluate signals from a plurality of sensors to determine if any of the sensors are unreliable and should be disregarded for obstacle detection. The fallback procedure initiation module 27 may be configured to evaluate status information of the plurality of sensors. For example, if a sensor transmits status information indicating a low battery level, the fallback procedure initiation module 27 may determine that the low battery level sensor is no longer considered to detect obstacles. The module for initiating a fall-back procedure 27 may alternatively or additionally be set up to detect faulty behavior of a sensor. For example, if an infrared sensor or other electromagnetic radiation sensor located at the outermost louver or bottom rail frequently reports obstacles without causing the outermost louver or bottom rail to tilt, the module may initiate a fall-back procedure 27 detect an error of the infrared sensor. Such an error may be caused, for example, by contamination or misalignment between source 36 and sensor 35.

One or more of the modules 24-26 may be omitted. For example, the module for initiating a fall-back procedure 27 can be omitted if only a single sensor is arranged on the outermost lamella 7 or lower rail. The module for initiating a tilt detection 26 may be omitted if no inertial sensor is present.

The controller 20 may include a motor drive circuit 28. The circuit for motor control 28 may control the electric motor 9 or another actuator depending on an output signal of the sensor evaluation circuit 24. The motor drive circuit 28 may control the sunshade or privacy screen drive depending on signals from the at least one sensor implemented by the sensor evaluation circuit 24 so that the closing movement is stopped if an obstacle is detected. The motor drive circuit 28 may, depending on signals from the at least one sensor implemented by the sensor evaluation circuit 24, control the sunshade or privacy screen drive means to correct undesired tilting of the outermost louver or bottom rail such that the longitudinal axis 1 1 of the outermost lamella or lower rail is again perpendicular to the direction of movement 10. The control device 20 may include an interface 22 for direct or indirect coupling to the drive device. The interface 22 may be conductively connected to one or more terminals of an actuator, such as an electric motor, to provide signals for stopping the actuator and / or reversing the direction of movement thereon.

While embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, modifications may be implemented in other embodiments.

For example, while ultrasonic sensors can be used to detect tilt, another pair of proximity sensors can be used to detect tilt.

While embodiments have been described in the context of vertically movable slats, the disclosed techniques may also be used when a plurality of slats are supported horizontally movable.

While embodiments have been described in the context of automatically driving a drive means of the sun and blinds device, the disclosed techniques may also be used when there is no such drive means and / or when the drive means is not controllable by the controller. In this case, at least the issuing of a warning to the user can be initiated by the control device 20 in order to inform the user of the obstacle and to warn of possible damage to the sun and sight protection device.

Embodiments may be used, in particular, in sun and privacy screens comprising a blind or an external blind to reduce the risk of damage from entanglement, entanglement or other misalignment of a band that may occur when the outermost lamella or Lower rail is blocked. However, the embodiments are not limited to use with such sun and visual protection devices.

Claims

1 . Sun or sight protection device comprising

a sunshade or screen (2), in particular a blind or a venetian blind, which comprises a plurality of lamellae (4-7) which are movable along a direction of movement (10) and which are displaceable relative to one another along the direction of movement (10), and

at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) arranged to detect an obstacle (19) positioned along a path of movement of the sunshade or screen (2), the at least one sensor (31, 32; 35) is arranged on a along the direction of movement (10) outermost lamella (7) or on a lower rail of the sun or visual protection (2).

2. sun or sight protection device according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one sensor (31, 32; 31, 35) comprises a first sensor (31; 31, 32) arranged to detect a tilt of the outermost lamella (7) or the bottom rail.

3. sun or sight protection device according to claim 2,

wherein the first sensor (31; 31, 32) is arranged to tilt by one

Axis (12) which is perpendicular to the direction of movement (10) and a longitudinal axis (1 1) of the outermost lamella (7) or the lower rail.

4. sun or sight protection device according to claim 2 or claim 3,

wherein the first sensor (31) an inertial sensor, in particular a

Accelerometer or a gyroscope includes.

The sun or sight protection device of any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) comprises a second sensor (31, 32, 35) which is an active sensor.

6. sun or sight protection device according to claim 5,

wherein the second sensor (35) comprises an infrared sensor arranged to detect an infrared light beam (37) directed parallel to the outermost louver or bottom rail.

7. sun or sight protection device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the second sensor (31, 32) comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

8. Sun or sight protection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) has a radio interface to

Communication with a control device (20) comprises or is coupled to a radio interface for communication with the control device (20).

9. sun or sight protection device according to claim 8, comprising

a control device (20) having an interface (21) for receiving signals from the at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35), and

a drive device (9) for driving the sun or sight protection (2), wherein the control device (20) is set up around the drive device (9) as a function of the signals received by the at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) to control.

10. Sun or sight protection device according to claim 9,

wherein the control device (20) is arranged to control the drive device (9) in response to a tilting of the outermost lamella (7) or the lower rail detected by the at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) outermost lamella (7) or the lower rail is retracted to a position in which the outermost lamella (7) or the lower rail is oriented perpendicular to the direction of movement (10).

1 1. Method for controlling a drive device (9) of a sun or sight protection device (1), wherein the drive device (9) for causing a

Movement of a sun or privacy screen (2), in particular a blind or a Venetian blind, is set up, wherein the sun or privacy protection comprises a plurality of lamellae (4-7), which along a direction of movement (10) are movable and along the Movement direction (10) are displaceable relative to each other, the method comprising:

Detecting an obstacle (19) along a trajectory of the sun or

Privacy protection (2) with at least one arranged on an outermost blade (7) or a lower rail sensor (31, 32, 31, 35) and

Controlling the drive device (9) in dependence on an output signal of the at least one sensor (31, 32, 31, 35).

12. The method according to claim 1 1, which is performed by the sun or sight protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1.