Patent Publication Number: US-10781631-B2

Title: Electrically-driven window shade and its actuating mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This patent application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 106112588 filed on Apr. 14, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electrically-driven window shades and its actuating mechanism. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Electrically-driven window shades use an electric motor for raising and lowering the shade. The electric motor and the power source for the electric motor are usually placed in a top support structure of the window shade, and a remote controller is provided for controlling the operation of the electric motor. This type of product usually requires a specifically designed motor controller that integrates a wireless capability, which may increase the manufacture cost of the window shade. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a window shade that can be flexibly configured and manufactured in a cost-effective manner, and address at least the foregoing issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     An actuating mechanism for a window shade includes an electric motor for driving a displacement of a movable rail, a motor controller electrically coupled to the electric motor and having a first and a second connector, a power supply, a wired control interface, and a removable wireless adapter operable to convert a wireless signal outputted by a wireless control interface to an electric signal. The actuating mechanism has a first configuration supporting wireless control, and a second configuration supporting wired-only control, the wireless adapter being respectively connected with the power supply, the wired control interface and the first and second connectors of the motor controller in the first configuration, and the wireless adapter being removed and the power supply and the wired control interface being respectively connected with the first and second connectors of the motor controller in the second configuration. 
     Moreover, the present application provides a window shade including a fixed rail, a movable rail, a shading structure disposed between the fixed rail and the movable rail, an elongate tube pivotally connected with the fixed rail and extending generally vertically from the fixed rail, and the actuating mechanism, wherein the wired control interface is disposed adjacent to a lower end of the elongate tube. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an electrically-driven window shade; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating an actuating mechanism provided in the window shade shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view illustrating an example of construction for a winding unit implemented in the actuating mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an electric connection implemented in the actuating mechanism according to a first setup configuration supporting wireless control; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the actuating mechanism in a setup configuration supporting wired-only control; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the actuating mechanism in a setup configuration supporting wired-only control; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating exemplary operation of the window shade in the setup configuration supporting wired-only control; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating exemplary operation of the window shade in the setup configuration supporting wireless control; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a variant construction implemented in the actuating mechanism; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection implemented in the actuating mechanism shown  FIG. 9  according to a setup configuration supporting wireless control. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an electrically-driven window shade  100 . The window shade  100  can be exemplary a vertically adjustable window shade. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the window shade  100  can include a fixed rail  102 , a movable rail  104 , and a shading structure  106  disposed between the fixed rail  102  and the movable rail  104 . The fixed rail  102  may be a head rail that can be fixedly attached at a top of a window frame. The movable rail  104  may be a bottom rail disposed at a bottom of the window shade  100 . The shading structure  106  may have an upper end disposed adjacent to the fixed rail  102 , and a lower end disposed adjacent to the movable rail  104 . Examples of the movable rail  104  may include, without limitation, an elongate member, a weighing member, and the like. 
     According to an example of construction, the shading structure  106  may have a honeycomb structure made of a fabric material that includes a plurality of expandable and collapsible cells. The upper end and the lower end of the honeycomb structure may be respectively attached to the fixed rail  102  and the movable rail  104 . According other examples of construction, the shading structure  106  may include a plurality of slats suspended from the fixed rail  102 . 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating an actuating mechanism  108  provided in the window shade  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the window shade  100  can include an electrically-driven actuating mechanism  108 , which can include a wired control interface  110 , a plurality of winding units  114 , a plurality of suspension cords  116  (shown with phantom lines in  FIG. 1 ), a rotary shaft  118 , an electric motor  120 , a motor controller  122 , a power supply  124  and a removable wireless adapter  126 . 
     The winding units  114  can be disposed in the fixed rail  102  at spaced-apart locations, and can be coaxially assembled with the rotary shaft  118 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded view illustrating further construction details of one winding unit  114 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the winding unit  114  can exemplary include a casing assembly  114 A and a reel  114 B. The reel  114 B can be pivotally connected with the casing assembly  114 A and coupled to the rotary shaft  118 . Accordingly, the winding unit  114  can be rotationally coupled to the rotary shaft  118 . Each suspension cord  116  can be respectively connected with one winding unit  114  associated therewith. More specifically, each suspension cord  116  can pass through openings provided in the shading structure  106  with one end of the suspension cord  116  connected with the reel  114 B of the winding unit  114  and another opposite end of the suspension cord  116  connected with the movable rail  104 . In use, the movable rail  104  can be thereby suspended vertically below the fixed rail  102 . 
     The rotary shaft  118  can be disposed through the reel  114 B of each winding unit  114  with the reel  114 B rotationally coupled to the rotary shaft  118 . The rotary shaft  118  and the reels  114 B of the winding units  114  can thereby rotate in unison for winding and unwinding the suspension cords  116 . 
     The electric motor  120 , the motor controller  122 , the power supply  124  and the wireless adapter  126  can be respectively disposed in the fixed rail  102 . The electric motor  120  can have an output rotationally coupled to the rotary shaft  118 , whereby the electric motor  120  can drive the rotary shaft  118  to rotate in either direction for displacing the movable rail  104  relative to the fixed rail  102 . The power supply  124  can include a battery or a voltage transformer, and can provide electric power for the actuating mechanism  108 . 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an electric connection implemented between the electric motor  120 , the motor controller  122 , the power supply  124 , the wireless adapter  126  and the wired control interface  110  of the actuating mechanism  108  according to a setup configuration supporting wireless control. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the motor controller  122  can be electrically connected with the electric motor  120  via a cable  132 , and can be electrically connected with the wireless adapter  126  via two cables  134 A and  134 B. More specifically, the cable  132  can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the electric motor  120  and the motor controller  122 , and each of the two cables  134 A and  134 B can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the motor controller  122  and the wireless adapter  126 . Moreover, the wireless adapter  126  can be respectively connected electrically with the power supply  124  and the wired control interface  110  via two cables  136  and  138 . More specifically, the cable  136  can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the power supply  124  and the wireless adapter  126 , and the cable  138  can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the wired control interface  110  and the wireless adapter  126 . 
     The motor controller  122  can receive an electric signal from the wireless adapter  126  and/or the wired control interface  110 , perform settings, control the operation of the electric motor  120 , and transfer electric power outputted by the power supply  124  to the electric motor  120 . The motor controller  122  and the electric motor  120  may be disposed at spaced-apart locations, e.g., one or more winding unit  114  may be disposed between the motor controller  122  and the electric motor  120 . 
     The wired control interface  110  can be electrically coupled to the motor controller  122 , and can include a plurality of buttons  112 . A user can operate any of the buttons  112  on the wired control interface  110  for controlling the operation of the actuating mechanism  108  via the motor controller  122 . Exemplary operations that can be controlled with the wired control interface  110  can include performing settings, displacing the movable rail  104  toward or away from the fixed rail  102  for collapsing or expanding the shading structure  106 , and the like. 
     The wireless adapter  126  can receive electric power outputted by the power supply  124  through the cable  136 , and transfer the electric power to the motor controller  122  through the cable  134 A. The motor controller  122  then can allocate the electric power to the electric motor  120  for its operation. 
     Moreover, the wireless adapter  126  can receive a control signal, and transmit a corresponding electric signal through the cable  134 B to the motor controller  122 . For example, the wireless adapter  126  can receive a wireless signal (e.g., infrared (IR) or radio-frequency (RF) signal) emitted from a wireless control interface  140 , convert the wireless signal to an electric signal, and transmit the electric signal through the cable  134 B to the motor controller  122 . The wireless control interface  140  can exemplary include a remote controller having a plurality of buttons, a wireless device having a touch panel, and the like. In addition, the wireless adapter  126  can further receive a control signal that is outputted by the wired control interface  110  and is transmitted through the cable  138  to the wireless adapter  126 , this control signal being an electric signal, and transmit this electric signal through the cable  134 B to the motor controller  122 . Depending on whether a user operates the wired control interface  110  or the wireless control interface  140 , the wireless adapter  126  can accordingly transmit a corresponding control signal to the motor controller  122 , which can thereby perform settings and/or drive the electric motor  120 . 
     According to an embodiment, the motor controller  122  can include a plurality of connectors  142 ,  144  and  146 . The connector  142  of the motor controller  122  can connect with an end connector  152  provided at an end of the cable  132  for electrically coupling the motor controller  122  to the electric motor  120 . The cable  132  may be permanently attached to the electric motor  120  at one end, and a detachable connection can be applied between the connector  142  of the motor controller  122  and the end connector  152  at the other end of the cable  132 , which may facilitate installation and removal of the electric motor  120  and the motor controller  122 . For electrically coupling the motor controller  122  to the wireless adapter  126 , the connector  144  of the motor controller  122  can connect with an end connector  154  provided at an end of the cable  134 A, and the connector  146  of the motor controller  122  can connect with an end connector  156  provided at an end of the cable  134 B. A detachable connection is applied between the connector  144  of the motor controller  122  and the end connector  154  of the cable  134 A as well as between the connector  146  of the motor controller  122  and the end connector  156  of the cable  134 B, whereby the wireless adapter  126  may be electrically coupled to the motor controller  122  or removed as desired. 
     According to an embodiment, an end of the cable  134 A opposite to the end connector  154  may further have another end connector  160 , and an end of the cable  134 B opposite to the end connector  156  may further have another end connector  162 . The end connector  160  of the cable  134 A and the end connector  162  of the cable  134 B can respectively connect with two connectors  164  and  166  provided at an output side of the wireless adapter  126 , wherein a detachable connection can be respectively applied between the end connectors  160  and  162  and the connectors  164  and  166  so that the cables  134 A and  134 B can be connected with or detached from the wireless adapter  126  as desired. The connector  164  of the wireless adapter  126  can be exemplary a DC power connector, and the connector  166  of the wireless adapter  126  can be exemplary a signal connector (e.g., 4-pole connector). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the wireless adapter  126  can further have an input side provided with two connectors  168  and  170 . The connector  168  of the wireless adapter  126  can connect with an end connector  172  provided at an end of the cable  136  for electrically coupling the wireless adapter  126  to the power supply  124 . The cable  136  may be permanently attached to the power supply  124  at one end, and a detachable connection can be applied between the connector  168  of the wireless adapter  126  and the end connector  172  at the other end of the cable  136 , which may facilitate installation and removal of the power supply  124  and the wireless adapter  126 . Moreover, the connector  170  of the wireless adapter  126  can connect with an end connector  174  provided at an end of the cable  138  for electrically coupling the wireless adapter  126  to the wired control interface  110 . The cable  138  may be permanently attached to the wired control interface  110  at one end, and a detachable connection can be applied between the connector  170  of the wireless adapter  126  and the end connector  174  at the other end of the cable  138 , which may facilitate installation and removal of the wired control interface  110  and the wireless adapter  126 . 
     Although the cables  136  and  138  have been described as being respectively attached permanently to the power supply  124  and the wired control interface  110 , it will be appreciated that a detachable connection may be respectively applied between the cables  136  and  138  and the power supply  124  and the wired control interface  110 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the fixed rail  102  may further be pivotally connected with an elongate tube  178 . The elongate tube  178  can be pivotally connected with the fixed rail  102  adjacent to one end of the fixed rail  102 , the elongate tube  178  extending generally vertically outside the fixed rail  102 . The cable  138  can extend through a hollow interior of the elongate tube  178 , and connects with the wired control interface  110  which is disposed adjacent to a lower end of the elongate tube  178 . The wired control interface  110  can be thereby appended to the fixed rail  102  via the elongate tube  178 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the end connector  172  of the cable  136  can be identical to the end connector  154  of the cable  134 A, and the end connector  174  of the cable  138  can be identical to the end connector  156  of the cable  134 B. Accordingly, the end connector  172  of the cable  136  and the end connector  174  of the cable  138  may be respectively connected directly with the connectors  144  and  146  of the motor controller  122  in case a desired configuration does not need the wireless adapter  126 . Therefore, the actuating mechanism  108  of the window shade  100  described herein can have at least two setup configurations, which include a setup configuration supporting wired-only control and a setup configuration supporting wireless control. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are respectively a perspective view and a block diagram illustrating the actuating mechanism  108  in a setup configuration supporting wired-only control. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when no wireless control is needed, the wireless adapter  126  and the cables  134 A and  134 B (better shown in  FIG. 2 ) can be removed, the cable  136  of the power supply  124  can be connected with the connector  144  of the motor controller  122  by having the end connector  172  of the cable  136  connected and in contact with the connector  144 , and the cable  138  of the wired control interface  110  can be connected with the connector  146  of the motor controller  122  by having the end connector  174  of the cable  138  connected and in contact with the connector  146 . Moreover, the motor controller  122  can be electrically coupled to the electric motor  120  through the cable  132  by having the end connector  152  of the cable  132  connected and in contact with the connector  142  on the motor controller  122 . With respect to a spatial placement, the electric motor  120  and the power supply  124  can be respectively disposed adjacent to two opposite ends of the fixed rail  102 , and the motor controller  122  and the electric motor  120  may be spaced apart from each other with the motor controller  122  exemplary disposed between two winding units  114 . 
     When the actuating mechanism  108  is in the setup configuration shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , only wired control is available: a user can send commands to the motor controller  122  with only the buttons  112  on the wired control interface  110 . For example, when a user operates one or more of the buttons  112 , the wired control interface  110  can transmit a control signal through the cable  138  to the motor controller  122  for performing the corresponding operation, such as performing settings and/or displacing the movable rail  104  as exemplary shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , when the window shade  100  needs to support wireless control, the wireless adapter  126  can be installed in the fixed rail  102 . With respect to the electric connection, the cable  136  of the power supply  124  can be connected with the connector  168  on the input side of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connector  172  of the cable  136  connected and in contact with the connector  168 , and the cable  138  of the wired control interface  110  can be connected with the connector  170  on the input side of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connector  174  of the cable  138  connected and in contact with the connector  170 . Moreover, the cable  134 A can be respectively connected with the connector  144  on the motor controller  122  and the connector  164  on the output side of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connectors  154  and  160  of the cable  134 A respectively connected and in contact with the connectors  144  and  164 , and the cable  134 B can be respectively connected with connector  146  on the motor controller  122  and the connector  166  on the output side of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connectors  156  and  162  of the cable  134 B respectively connected and in contact with the connectors  146  and  166 . The wireless adapter  126  can be thereby respectively connected with the power supply  124 , the wired control interface  110 , and the connectors  144  and  146  of the motor controller  122 . In addition, the motor controller  122  can electrically couple to the electric motor  120  through the cable  132  by having the end connector  152  of the cable  132  connected and in contact with the connector  142  on the motor controller  122 . With respect to a spatial placement, the electric motor  120  and the power supply  124  can be respectively disposed adjacent to two opposite ends of the fixed rail  102 , and the motor controller  122  and the electric motor  120  may be spaced apart from each other with the motor controller  122  exemplary disposed between two winding units  114 . The wireless adapter  126  can be exemplary disposed adjacent to the power supply  124  and spaced apart from the motor controller  122 . 
     When the actuating mechanism  108  is in the setup configuration shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , a user can send commands to the motor controller  122  with the wireless control interface  140  for performing settings and/or displacing the movable rail  104  as shown in  FIG. 8 . More specifically, when a user operates the wireless control interface  140 , the wireless control interface  140  can emit a wireless signal to the wireless adapter  126 . The wireless adapter  126  then can transmit a corresponding control signal through the cable  134 B to the motor controller  122 , which can perform a corresponding operation, such as performing a setting and/or driving the electric motor  120  in rotation. 
     It is noted that in the setup configuration supporting wireless control, the wireless adapter  126  can also transmit control signals outputted by the wired control interface  110  to the motor controller  122 . Accordingly, a user can also use the wired control interface  110  to control operation of the window shade  100 , such as performing a setting and/or driving the electric motor  120 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are respectively a perspective view and a block diagram illustrating a variant implementation in which the cables  134 A and  134 B can be permanently attached to the wireless adapter  126 , e.g., by having an end of each of the cables  134 A and  134 B welded to the wireless adapter  126 . In other words, the cables  134 A and  134 B can be respectively coupled to the connectors  168  and  170  of the wireless adapter  126  via an internal circuit of the wireless adapter  126 . Accordingly, the cables  134 A and  134 B cannot be detached from the wireless adapter  126  in use. With this construction, when the window shade  100  needs to support wireless control, the cable  136  of the power supply  124  can be connected with the connector  168  of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connector  172  of the cable  136  connected and in contact with the connector  168 , and the cable  138  of the wired control interface  110  can be connected with the connector  170  of the wireless adapter  126  by having the end connector  174  of the cable  138  connected and in contact with the connector  170 . Moreover, the cable  134 A of the wireless adapter  126  can be connected with the connector  144  of the motor controller  122  by having the end connector  154  of the cable  134 A connected and in contact with the connector  144 , and the cable  134 B of the wireless adapter  126  can be connected with the connector  146  of the motor controller  122  by having the end connector  156  of the cable  134 B connected and in contact with the connector  146 . Like previously described, the motor controller  122  can electrically couple to the electric motor  120  via the cable  132  by having the end connector  152  of the cable  132  connected and in contact with the connector  142  of the motor controller  122 . 
     Advantages of the structures described herein include an actuating mechanism having a modularized construction that can be implemented in a cost-effective manner. The actuating mechanism can include a wireless adapter that is easily installable or removed as desired by a manufacturer, a vendor at a point of sale, or even an end user. Accordingly, the actuating mechanism and the window shade described herein can offer more flexibility to support wireless control or wired-only control in accordance with the needs. 
     Realizations of the structures have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the claims that follow.