Abstract:
An improved system for controlling motorized window coverings with light control includes an improved control system including a switch with an up button, a stop button and down button to activate a motor to control the configuration of the covering, including the extension or retraction of the covering, and the transmissivity of the covering.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/760,117 filed Jan. 19, 2006 and is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein. 
    
    
     INVENTIVE FIELD 
     The inventive field is directed towards devices, systems and methods for controlling motorized window coverings with light control. More specifically, the inventive field relates to the hardware and/or software utilized in a device, system and/or method and includes a control system, one or more switches with push buttons and various motors, actuators and assemblies used to control the operation of the motorized window covering with light control. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well known that it is frequently desirable to place retractable coverings on architectural openings such as windows. It is also desirable to be able to adjust the transmissivity of the retractable covering. A proposal to solve the problem of a retractable covering for an architectural opening is disclosed in U.S. patent application, entitled “Remote Control Operating System and Support Structure for a Retractable Covering for an Architectural Opening,” Joseph E. Kovach et al., filed Dec. 10, 2003, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/732,747, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,029 (the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). 
     Although various control systems exist for operating retractable coverings, there remains a need for improved devices, systems and/or methods used to control the retraction, extension and transmissivity of window and other architectural coverings. 
     Prior attempts to control the automated retraction and extension of a covering have employed remote controls or manual switches with up and down buttons. Such control systems generally result in the extension or retraction of a window covering at a single speed. What is needed are devices, systems and methods which support the extension and/or retraction of a covering at varying speeds. Further, such an invention desirably supports the automated opening or closing (or therebetween) of the covering, for purposes of transmissivity or the like, but at desired speeds. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method is disclosed for using a switch with a plurality of buttons to activate a motor to control the configuration of a window covering. The method comprises monitoring a signal from the switch to detect the pressing of a button; monitoring the speed of the covering; upon determining that a button is pressed, setting the speed and direction of motor rotation; and upon determining that no button is pressed, setting the speed of motor rotation. 
     A control system is disclosed for activating a motor to adjust a window covering. The control comprises a switch having a plurality of buttons; a microprocessor adapted to (a) monitor a signal from the switch to detect the pressing of a button; (b) monitor the speed of the covering; (c) upon detecting the pressing of a button, setting the speed and direction of motor rotation; and (d) upon detecting that no button is pressed, setting the speed of motor rotation. 
     Other embodiments utilize a motor with a plurality of speeds such that a first speed is used to position the covering while a second speed is used to rapidly extend or retract the covering. Other embodiments of the present invention use limit stops to prevent over/under extension of the covering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary isometric view of the top and front of a retractable covering. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a switch suitable for use with at least one embodiment of the present invention including, without limitation, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the head rail used, for example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the covering is in its fully retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the head rail used, for example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the covering is in its fully extended configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a control system. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the logic used by a control system. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the logic used by a control system. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the logic used by a control system. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of the logic used by a control system. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of the logic used by a control system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices, systems and methods for controlling a retractable covering for architectural openings such as windows. As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  for one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a control system which can be mounted, for example, in a switch  20  (or provided elsewhere in the system). The control system is configured to control the extending, retracting, and otherwise adjusting of one or more coverings, such as the covering  30  shown in  FIG. 1 . The covering  30  can be attached between a head rail  40  and a bottom rail  50 . The control system may be operated using the switch  20 . Mounting brackets  60  can be used to attach the head rail  40  to a desired mounting surface (e.g., a wall above the window). Two limit switches  70  can be utilized to prevent over-retraction and/or under-retraction of the covering  30 . An example of a covering  30  suitable for use with one or more of the various embodiments of the present invention can include, but is not limited to, a first flexible sheet  80  and a second flexible sheet  90  with vanes  100  attached between these first and second flexible sheets, respectively. The first and second flexible sheets  80 ,  90 , respectively, are secured to the bottom rail  50 . Left and right end caps,  110 ,  120 , respectively, support components, aesthetically shield various internal components from view, and include auxiliary support pockets  130  that may be used in select applications to position the head rail  40  above a window opening to be covered. In one embodiment, the control system monitors a switch  30  having an up button  140 , a stop button  150 , and a down button  160 . Based upon signals received from such buttons, the control system can control the direction, configuration (e.g., full open, partially open and the like) and speed of movement of the covering. In one embodiment, a reversible, direct current (dc) motor (not shown) is used to move the covering. Likewise, the motor may be used to facilitate the adjusting of the transmissivity of the covering. Further, it is to be appreciated that one or more motors may be used. 
     The general operation of one embodiment of a retractable covering  10 , suitable for use in various embodiments is described next. The covering  30  may be in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 3 , which is in its most retracted configuration. To lower the retractable covering  30 , the down button  160  on the switch  20  can be pressed. The down button can be pressed for a predetermined minimum time. For example, in one embodiment, a minimum time period of two seconds is utilized. In other embodiments, the down button  160  may be pressed over a range of time periods (e.g., more than two seconds but less than four seconds or the like). Further, the control system can be configured such that when the down button is first pressed for a first time period, the motor begins to extend the covering at a slow speed. In at least one embodiment, once the down button  160  has been depressed for at least the predetermined minimum time period (in this example, two seconds), the motor switches from a first speed to a second speed while extending the covering  30 . For certain embodiments, the first speed may be slower than the second speed. For this embodiment, once the motor is operating at the second speed, it will continue to extend the cover  30 , even if the down button is released, until the fully extended position is reached. However, upon the subsequent pressing of any button on switch  20 , while the cover is being extended, at either the first or second speeds, the control system will instruct the motor to stop the extension of the cover. When the blind is in the resulting “fully opened” configuration, any further pressing of the down button  160  on switch  20  has no effect on the configuration of the covering  30 . 
     Limit stops  70  can be used to prevent over-extension of the retractable covering  10 . Likewise, timers, potentiometers, and various other well known sensors and/or actuators can be used to prevent the over/under extension of the covering. Further, it is to be appreciated that precise positioning of the cover  30  can be accomplished by using one of the at least two available operating speeds, for example, a slower of the at least two speeds. A slower of the at least two operating speeds can be initiated upon the control system detecting that the down button  160 , for example, has been depressed for less than the predetermined minimum time (e.g., for less than two seconds in at least one embodiment). In this mode the motor continues to operate at slow speed while extending the cover  30 . 
     Further, the control system may be configured such that, when operating in the slower of the at least operating modes, upon releasing the down button, the extension of the cover automatically stops. 
     The covering  30  may be in its fully open configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 . To raise the retractable covering  10 , the up button  140  on switch  20  is pressed for a desired minimum time, for example, two seconds. When the up button  140  is first pressed, the motor begins to retract the covering at a first speed. Once the up button has been depressed for the desired minimum time, the motor switches from the first speed to a second speed while retracting the covering. As before, the first speed can be slower or faster than the second speed. Once the motor is operating at the second speed, it will continue to retract the covering even if the up button is released. Pressing any button again on switch  20  will stop the motor and retraction of the covering. If not stopped, the motor will continue to retract the covering until the covering is at its highest position. When the blind is in the resulting “fully closed” configuration, any further pressing of the up button  140  on switch  20  has no effect on the configuration of the covering. 
     Limit stops  70  can be used to prevent over-retraction of the retractable covering  10 . When precise positioning of the covering  30  is desired, the covering can be raised using the first speed. This is done by tapping the up button  140 . For at least one embodiment, less than two second taps can be used to control the operation of the blind. In this mode, the motor continues to operate at the first speed while retracting the covering  30 . Releasing the up button automatically stops the motor and retraction of the covering. 
     When the covering  30  is stopped in an intermediate position, it may be raised or lowered by pressing the up button  140  or down button  160 , respectively. 
     Transmissivity of the extended covering  30  is also fully adjustable using switch  20 . When the covering is in its fully extended configuration, the transmissivity of the covering (i.e., the amount of light or air that is permitted to pass through the covering) may be adjusted by toggling between the up and down buttons,  140 ,  160 , respectively. This causes the motor to operate at its first speed while configuring the transmissivity of the covering. By toggling between the up and down buttons, the covering can be configured for maximum transmissivity, minimum transmissivity, or any desired level of transmissivity between the maximum and the minimum. 
     Pressing the stop button  150  on switch  20  causes the blind  30  to stop moving if it is in motion. If any button on switch  20  is pressed while the covering  30  is moving at the second speed, the covering stops moving. 
     For example, if the covering  30  is being extended and the bottom rail  50  is traveling downward at the second speed but has not yet reached its lowest point of travel, if the up button  140 , the down button  160 , or the stop button  150  on switch  20  is pressed and released, the control system instructs the motor to cease all motion of the covering  30 . If the down button  160  is then pressed, the motor will be commanded to continue extending the covering  30  at the first speed. If, on the other hand, the up button  140  is pressed after the covering  30  was stopped, the motor will be commanded to reverse the direction of rotation, and will begin to retract the covering  30  at the first speed. Similarly, if the covering  30  is being retracted at the second speed and the up button  140 , the down button  160  or the stop button  150  is pressed and released, retraction of the covering  30  stops. Then, if the up button  140  is pressed again, retraction of the covering  30  commences at the first speed. If, on the other hand, the down button  160  is pressed after stopping the retraction of the covering  30 , the motor will begin to rotate at the first speed so as to extend the covering  30 . 
     In summary, if any button on the switch  20  is pressed while the motor is operating at the second speed and the covering  30  has not yet reached a fully extended or fully retracted configuration, the motor will be commanded to stop moving the covering. 
     While the various embodiments discussed hereinabove have been described with respect to two operating speeds, it is to be appreciated that any number of operating speeds may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention. When three or more operating speeds are utilized, the control system can be configured to sequentially proceed through the operating speeds, to automatically return to a slowest operating speed when any button is pushed at a faster operating speed, to automatically proceed to the fastest operating speed (for example, button holds of longer than five (5) seconds and the like). 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the control system electronics. Power supply  180  supplies power to the electronics. Batteries and other alternative power systems can additionally or separately be used to power the control system, device and systems. Microprocessor  190  monitors switch  20  to detect whether or not a button is pressed. Timer  210  is used by microprocessor  190  to determine when a button has been pressed for a minimum amount of time (for example, two seconds). A motor  200  is controlled by microprocessor  190  to retract, extend or adjust the transmissivity of the covering  30 . 
       FIG. 6  comprises a flow chart representation of the logic used by the control system for one embodiment of the present invention. The logic may be implemented in software or firmware for execution by the microprocessor. All times shown in the flow chart are nominal. Actual times may vary. For at least one embodiment, times may vary by +−25%. Items in a box are actions that are performed. Items in a diamond are tests that are made and the possible outcomes are written next to the arrows leaving the diamond. 
     The following scenarios provide examples of how the control system electronics operate for various embodiments having a varying number of buttons on switch  20 , a varying number of speeds for the motor  200  and limit stops  70 . 
       FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of the logic executed by the control system electronics. When power is first applied, for example, upon a reset, the control system is initialized by, for example, commanding the motor to stop, resetting the timer  210  to zero, and performing any other operations necessary or desired to put the control system into a known state (Operation  300 ). The control system then determines if a button on switch  20  is pressed (Operation  310 ). If a button is pressed, the control system determines which button on switch  20  has been pressed and instructs the motor  200  to begin rotating and thereby retracting or extending the covering in the corresponding direction (Operation  340 ). The control system also determines if the button has been pressed for a minimum time, for example, but not limited to, two (2) seconds (Operation  350 ). If the button has been pressed for the minimum time, the motor  200  is instructed to rotate at a second speed (which in one embodiment is faster than the first speed) resulting in the covering being extended or retracted faster (Operation  370 ). The control system then returns to Operation  310 . 
     Referring back to Operation  310 , if no button is pressed on switch  20  the control system determines if motor  200  is operating at its second speed (Operation  320 ). If the motor is operating at its second speed, the control system takes no further action (e.g., the window covering continues to be extended or retracted at high speed). That is, once a button has been pressed for the minimum time, it can be released and the motor will continue to move the covering at the second speed. The control system then returns to Operation  310 . Referring back to Operation  320 , if the motor is not running at its second speed, the control system instructs the motor  200  to stop thereby stopping movement of the covering (Operation  330 ). That is, if the covering is being moved at the first speed when the button is released, movement of the covering is stopped. Positioning of the covering can be achieved by toggling between the up and down buttons. The control system then returns to Operation  310 . 
     Referring back to Operation  350 , if the button has not been pressed for the minimum time, the control system determines if motor  200  is running at its second speed (Operation  360 ). If the motor is running at its second speed, the control system commands the motor to stop (Operation  330 ). That is, the covering was being extended or retracted by motor  200  at the second speed when a button is pressed indicating that movement of the covering is to be stopped. The control system then returns to Operation  310 . Referring back to Operation  360 , if the motor is not running at its second speed, the control system instructs the motor  200  to run at its first speed (Operation  380 ). The control system then returns to Operation  310 . 
       FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the logic executed by the control system electronics when switch  20  has a stop button in addition to an up button and down button. The operation of the control system is similar to that described in  FIG. 6  except for the following differences. When the control system determines that a button has been pressed (Operation  410 ), the control system then determines if the stop button on the switch  20  has been pressed (Operation  435 ). If the stop button has been pressed, the control system instructs the motor  200  to stop (Operation  430 ). The control system then returns to Operation  410 . Referring back to Operation  435 , if the stop button has not been pressed, the control system determines which other button on switch  20  has been pressed and instructs the motor  200  to begin rotating and thereby retracting or extending the covering in the corresponding direction (Operation  440 ). The other operations of the control system are as described for  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  show another embodiment of the logic executed by the control system electronics when the motor  200  has a first speed, a second speed and a third speed. The operation of the control system is similar to that described in  FIG. 6  except for the following differences. After the control system determines which button on switch  20  has been pressed and instructs the motor  200  to begin rotating and thereby retracting or extending the covering in the corresponding direction (Operation  540 ), the control system then determines if the button has been pressed for a first minimum time, for example, but not limited to, two (2) seconds (Operation  550 ). If the button has not been pressed for the first minimum time, the control system determines if the motor  200  is running at a speed greater than the first speed (Operation  560 ). If the motor  200  is running at a speed greater than the first speed, the control system instructs the motor to stop moving the covering  200  (Operation  530 ). When the motor  200  is running at a speed other than the first speed, the pressing of a button indicates that movement of the covering  30  is to be stopped. The control system then returns to Operation  510 . 
     Referring back to Operation  560 , if the motor  200  is not running at a speed greater than the first speed, the control system instructs the motor  200  to rotate at its first speed. The control system then returns to Operation  510 . Referring back to Operation  550 , if the button has been pressed for more than the first minimum time, the control system then determines if the button has been pressed for a second minimum time, for example, but not limited to, four (4) seconds (Operation  555 ). If the button has been pressed for the second minimum time, the control system instructs the motor  200  to rotate at its third speed (Operation  570 ). That is, the motor  200  is rotating at its second speed and the button has been pressed for the second minimum time indicating that the covering is to be moved at the third speed. The control system then returns to Operation  510 . Referring back to Operation  555 , if the button has not been pressed for the second minimum time, the control system instructs the motor to run at its second speed (Operation  565 ). That is, the motor has been rotating at its first speed and the button has been pressed for the first minimum time indicating that the covering is to be moved at the second speed. The control system then returns to Operation  510 . The other operations of the control system are as described for  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  shows yet another embodiment of the logic executed by the control system for motor  200  having three speeds and switch  20  having an up button, a stop button and a down button. The operation of the control system is similar to that described in  FIG. 8  except for the following differences. When the control system determines that a button has been pressed (Operation  610 ), the control system then determines if the stop button on the switch  20  has been pressed (Operation  635 ). If the stop button has been pressed, the control system instructs the motor  200  to stop (Operation  630 ). The control system then returns to Operation  610 . Referring back to Operation  635 , if the stop button has not been pressed, the control system determines which other button on switch  20  has been pressed and instructs the motor  200  to begin rotating and thereby retracting or extending the covering in the corresponding direction (Operation  640 ). The other operations of the control system are as described for  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
       FIG. 10  shows yet another embodiment of the logic executed by the control system when limit stops  70  are used to prevent the motor  200  from over rotating. The operation of the control system is similar to that described in  FIG. 6  except for the following differences. After the control system has been initialized (Operation  700 ), the control system determines if the motor  200  is rotating (Operation  702 ). If the motor  200  is running, the control system then determines if a limit stop  70  has been reached indicating that the covering has either been fully extended or fully retracted (Operation  705 ). If the limit stop  70  has been reached, the control system instructs the motor  200  to stop (Operation  730 ). The control system then returns to Operation  702 . Referring back to Operation  705 , if the limit stop  70  has not been reached, the control system then determines if a button has been pressed (Operation  710 ). 
     Referring back to Operation  702 , if the motor  200  is not running, the control system determines if a button has been pressed (Operation  710 ). The other difference is that after the control system either runs the motor  200  at its second speed (Operation  770 ) or at its first speed (Operation  780 ), the control system returns to Operation  702 . The other operations of the control system are as described for  FIG. 6 . 
     Although various embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Further, all references (e.g., first, second, up, down, leftward, rightward, bottom, top, inner, outer, above, below, clockwise, and counterclockwise) used above are to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, but should not create limitations, particularly as to the orientation of the apparatus. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.