Patent Description:
When operating e.g. windows, such as roof windows, and/or doors by means of a device comprising a drive arrangement and e.g. a chain, this should normally live up to certain safety standards to ensure that no foreign objects get trapped between e.g. window sash and frame when closing the window.

<CIT> relates to an actuator solution for operating pivot hung or top hung windows, and discloses that a force applied by the actuator may be measured by monitoring the electric current to an electric drive motor, or by usage of a strain gauge.

<CIT> discloses a driving solution for windows and doors where a drive unit is connected to a housing by means of a spring so that a movement of the drive unit relative to the housing can be detected by a sensor.

When utilizing e.g. a strain gauge, or other types of sensors, this may provide some drawbacks with respect to e.g. complexity, cost efficiency and/or other drawbacks. The present invention may e.g. help to reduce or even avoid such drawbacks.

The invention relates to a device for controlling a building aperture covering such as a door or a window. The device comprises:.

A control arrangement is configured to control said drive arrangement, and the drive arrangement may be configured to operate a push-pull chain. One or more parts of said drive arrangement is connected to the housing arrangement by means of a connection system. The strain measurement arrangement may be configured to transmit strain measurement information to said control arrangement, and said control arrangement may be configured to transmit control signals to control the motor based on the strain measurement information when a strain measurement exceed one or more thresholds.

The strain measurement arrangement may be configured to detect strain changes acting on said housing arrangement and occurring due to reaction forces transferred from at least a part of said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement.

The inventor has realized that as the housing is arranged to house the drive arrangement, and as the building aperture covering such as a window is to be connected to the drive arrangement, this will cause that when foreign objects acts on the building aperture covering, such forces (e.g. pulling or pushing forced dependent on the type of building aperture covering be controlled) may be transferred to the housing. Accordingly, the inventor has realized that foreign objects acting on e.g. a door or a window connected to the chain drive may thus be detected by a strain measurement arrangement configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing.

Thus, by detecting such forces by determining/monitoring strain changes in the housing, advantageous operations of the drive arrangement may be obtained in e.g. a reliable, simple, space saving and yet efficient manner.

The present invention may moreover provide advantages with respect to device cost optimization and/or manufacturing optimization, as the present invention may allow advantageous adjustment/adaption of e.g. threshold values and thus may e.g. be adapted to various application areas. For example, the weight of a window or door may vary dependent on the type and/or size of glass panes that is placed in the window sash (e.g. <NUM> or <NUM> layered glass), if a blind or shutter is arranged on the door or window or the like. Moreover, if the window is a roof window, the angle with which the window is arranged with respect to horizontal may influent on the torque/weight acting on the chain drive and/or the like. Additionally, a device may be utilized for a various range of windows and doors that might act with different forces on the device. The present invention may help to provide a solution that may allow advantageous utilization irrespectively of variations in the application area and/or aperture covering connected to the chain drive and operated by the device.

The present invention may for example, in aspects of the invention, provide an advantageous solution for detecting foreign objects acting on the building aperture covering, and such situations may thus be acted upon in a fast manner, thereby reducing the risk of e.g. persons or animals getting clamped or in other ways physically harmed by the building aperture covering, and/or reduce the risk of damaging the aperture covering, the device and/or the like.

Moreover or alternatively, the present invention may in aspects of the invention provide the possibility of intuitive control of the drive arrangement, as e.g. a person may interact manually with the building aperture covering, and thus be considered a "foreign object", and based thereon, the control arrangement may transmit control signals to operate the building aperture covering e.g. to open or close the building aperture covering.

The strain measurement arrangement is thus preferably arranged away from the connection system connecting the motor arrangement to the housing, but at a position where the strain measurement arrangement is able to detect strain changes caused by forces transferred from the drive arrangement to the housing.

Generally building actuators are often sold and retrofitted to for example windows. However the installation of external sensors and wiring may hinder widespread adaptation/utilization, the present invention may however reduce this limitation/issue.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said connection system may be configured to provide a substantially rigid connection between the housing arrangement and the drive arrangement. This may e.g. help to provide an improved transfer of forces to the housing and may thus help to improve the strain measurement.

In aspects of the invention, the housing arrangement is configured to shield/cover/hide the parts, such as the drive arrangement, a part of the chain, and/or the like in the housing arrangement.

The placement of the strain measuring arrangement may e.g. vary dependent of the placement of the drive arrangement, the type/configuration of the connection system and/or how the device is mounted. Thus, dependent on e.g. these factors, the strain measuring arrangement may be placed in order to assure a sufficient housing strain measurement.

It may e.g. be tested whether the strain measurement arrangement is configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement and occurring due to reaction forces transferred from at least a part of said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement by installing the device as it should be (e.g. in accordance with installation instructions provided with the device) at the intended location and/or with the intended orientation, and provide forces to the chain and thus see if the strain information from the strain measurement arrangement varies correspondingly.

The device may e.g. be a device configured for retro fitting to existing windows or doors, and/or it may be configured to be built into a frame part of a door or window such as a roof window.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said strain measurement arrangement is arranged at and/or near a part of the housing which is connected to the drive arrangement by means of the connection system, e.g. comprising one or more receiving parts, so as to detect said strain changes acting on said part of the housing arrangement and occurring due to forces transferred from said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement.

This may e.g. provide advantageous strain detection at the housing as the strain changes in the housing which may be desired to measure may gradually decrease with distance to the part of the housing which is connected to the drive arrangement by means of the connection system. This may e.g. be caused by the material of the housing wall. In aspects of the invention, the distance between the part of the housing which is connected to the drive arrangement by means of the connection system, and the strain measurement arrangement such as a strain gauge may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, such as between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In aspects of the invention, at least the part of the housing arrangement at which the strain measurement arrangement is configured to detect strain changes, and/or the part of the housing arrangement to which the drive arrangement is connected by the connection system, is made from a polymer material such as a plastic material, e.g. a fibre reinforced plastic material.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said control arrangement may be configured to activate the motor if a strain change detected by the strain measurement arrangement exceeds said more or more thresholds, preferably so as to move said push-pull chain into said housing to close a building aperture covering connected to said push-pull chain.

This may e.g. be provided in order to facilitate that a user may e.g. pull or push the building aperture covering such as a window in a closing direction. This may be registered as a strain change in the housing by the strain measurement arrangement, and thus indicate that the user wishes to close the window, and the control arrangement may thus e.g. control the motor to close the window.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said housing arrangement may be made from metal or a plastic material. For example, it may in aspects be made from a fibre reinforced plastic material, such as a glass fibre reinforced PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) material, and/or a Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) material such as a fibre reinforced PPS material. The strain measurement arrangement may hence, in aspects of the present disclosure be configured to detect a strain change in walls of the housing arrangement made from this/these material.

The present inventors have discovered that e.g. a plastic material housing, preferably a fibre reinforced plastic material housing may provide advantageous features from a strain measurement perspective, and that the above mentioned strain changes due to reaction forces caused by load changes on the chain, may advantageously be detected on the housing arrangement as strain changes when it is made from such material. Such a material may moreover be advantageous material as such material may provide a housing which is strong enough to withstand forces acting on the housing due to force changes on a building aperture covering and/or due to the weight of such coverings. It may at the same time provide a material which is easy to handle to provide the desired physical shape of the housing to sufficiently enclose and hold the drive arrangement and e.g. other parts, relative to the housing.

Generally, in aspects of the invention, the housing arrangement may e.g. be made from a glass fibre reinforced plastic material such as glass fibre reinforced PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), e.g. PBT <NUM>%GF, it may be made from a PPS material (Polyphenylene Sulfide) comprising a glass fibre filler such as a <NUM>% glass fibre filler (PPS <NUM>%GF) and/or the like.

the housing walls enclosing the drive arrangement may be made from a plastic material, preferably a fibre reinforced plastic material such as a glass fibre reinforced PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) material, and the strain measurement arrangement may be configured to detect a strain change in one of these walls.

In preferred aspects of the invention the housing arrangement encloses said drive arrangement, and preferably also at least a part of said control arrangement and/or said strain measurement arrangement. In other embodiments, the control arrangement may be arranged external to the housing, and may e.g. be connected to motor, strain measurement arrangement and e.g. other sensors by means of one or more wires such as electrical or optical wires.

The strain measurement arrangement may in aspects of the invention preferably be arranged inside said housing on e.g. a housing wall surface, or it may in other aspects of the invention be arranged externally at said housing,.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said drive arrangement comprises one or more fixed parts and driving parts configured to be moved relative to the one or more fixed parts so as to adjust said push-pull chain, wherein said one or more fixed parts of the drive arrangement is connected to said housing arrangement by the connection system, preferably by means of a connection system providing a substantially rigid connection to the housing arrangement. According to the invention, the strain measurement arrangement comprises one or more sensors, such as strain gauges, wherein said one or more sensors are attached to one or more housing walls of said housing arrangement.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said one or more sensors are attached to a surface, such as a wall surface of said housing arrangement, preferably attached directly to one or more housing walls by means of e.g. an adhesive. This may e.g. provide a simple and cost efficient solution. In preferred aspects of the invention, the strain measurement arrangement may comprise one or more strain gauges arranged to detect strain changes on said housing arrangement such as at one or more housing walls.

The present inventors have found that a strain gauge arrangement arranged to e.g. provide a Wheatstone bridge may be advantageous in order to detect strain changes in the housing.

In aspects of the invention, said sensors such as strain gauges are arranged to detect strain changes at different side parts/walls of said housing such as at a bottom part and/or a mounting side part of the housing arrangement. This may e.g. provide a more reliable and simple assembly and no or a more simple wiring may be required.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said strain measurement arrangement is arranged at and/or near a chain drive outlet of said housing arrangement so as to detect said strain changes acting on said housing arrangement and occurring due to forces transferred from said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said sprocket may be connected to the housing arrangement by means of the connection system, and said strain measurement arrangement may be arranged to detect strain changes acting on said housing arrangement due to forces transferred from said sprocket to the housing arrangement.

The sprocket may be in direct contact with the chain, and the present inventors have, through tests, found that the sprocket may transfer force changes to the housing from the chain, causing strain changes in the housing which a strain measurement arrangement may advantageously detect to.

In aspects of the invention, said one or more thresholds is/are configured to be set to a threshold based on the weight of the building aperture covering such as a door or a window to be connected to the chain arrangement.

The connection system may in preferred embodiments of the invention be a mechanical connection system, but may also in further embodiments of the invention comprise e.g. an adhesive for connecting a part of the drive arrangement to the housing.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said control arrangement may be configured to register a weight change, such as a weight reduction, of said building aperture covering, such as e.g. a window sash of e.g. a roof window, based on said strain measurement information from the strain measurement arrangement, and control said motor based thereon.

This may e.g. be advantageous if the building aperture covering is a roof window, or e.g. a top hinged window pressing on the push pull chain due to gravity. When e.g. a foreign object is entrapped between for example a window sash and e.g. frame, this initially causes a weight reduction on the chain when the motor starts to close the window. This weight change may cause a strain change in the housing which the strain measurement arrangement may detect, and the control arrangement may thus e.g. stop the motor based on this information.

The control arrangement may in advantageous aspects of the invention be configured to register a change in a strain direction acting on the housing arrangement, based on said strain measurement information from the strain measurement arrangement, and control said motor based thereon.

This may e.g. be relevant in order to provide an advantageous control parameter for the control arrangement. A strain direction change may e.g. indicate that the motor needs to pull "actively" in the window to close the window, but if e.g. another sensor arrangement detects that the window is not yet in a closed position, this may be an indication of a foreign object being trapped between window sash and frame.

It may also be advantageous in relation to e.g. centre hinged window solutions which may not provide a sufficiently large weight on the chain.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, said control arrangement may be configured to detect when the strain in the housing arrangement changes a certain amount within a predefine time period, such as a time period within the range of <NUM>-<NUM> seconds, such as within <NUM> - <NUM> seconds, e.g. within <NUM> - <NUM> seconds, and control the motor based thereon.

For example, a strain change larger than <NUM>% such as larger than <NUM>%, and which is detected within a predefined time period of e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> sec, may indicate that a foreign object is present between window sash and the fixed window frame and is clamped between these.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, a processing of the measurement data from the strain measurement arrangement, by means of e.g. the control arrangement, may comprise a differentiation calculation such as a <MAT> calculation e.g. a <MAT> calculation.

The mechanical characteristic of the housing material may e.g. change over time, and may thus e.g. influence on the housing strain over time, during the lifetime of the device. Also or alternatively, the strain characteristics may vary in the different housings manufactured, the drive arrangement installed and/or the like.

The inventors have however realized that by differentiating the strain measurement information, this may remove such drawbacks and thus e.g. provide a more robust and/or precise solution which may be implemented in various housings and/or different housing configurations without the need of individual calibration or adaption. It may also be especially advantageous when the housing in further embodiments of the invention is made from a plastic material as e.g. described above.

By utilizing a differentiation approach at the strain measurement information, this may moreover provide that a calibration of each device before or after installation may not be needed.

The threshold may thus, in preferred aspects of the invention, be set based on/set to a predetermined <MAT> value such as a predetermined <MAT> value (where V=voltage indicative of housing arrangement strain, and t=time).

Generally, it may be preferred to provide differentiation calculation to determine the "strain change slope" / "strain change speed" per time unit according to aspects of the present invention.

An adjustment of the threshold(s) and/or interpretation/processing of the measurement data may be provided, in aspects of the invention, in order to allow the present solution to be used for various sizes and/or types of building aperture coverings and/or at/in different positions.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said control arrangement may be configured to.

This may e.g. be advantageous from a safety point of view.

Said control arrangement may, in advantageous aspects of the invention, be configured control said motor based on input from a further position sensor, such as a tacho sensor arrangement, and/or a sensor arrangement, such as a motor current consumption measuring circuitry, configured to detect if the building aperture covering is sufficiently closed.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said control arrangement may be configured to stop said motor from providing a closing operation if.

These may be advantageous criteria for determining whether a foreign object may be present/ entrapped, and that the device should thus not try to close a building aperture covering, such as a window or door connected to the chain, before a person has e.g. checked for foreign objects, before the window has been opened again to allow the foreign object such as a hand or another body part to be removed, before a subsequent closing attempt and/or the like.

In one or more aspects of the invention, said strain measurement arrangement may be attached to a support member such as a plate or sheet material, wherein said support member is attached to said housing arrangement, such as attached to a housing wall of said housing arrangement. Strain changes in the support member are hence representative of and provided by strain changes in the housing arrangement such as a housing wall. The strain measurement arrangement may here e.g. comprise one or more sensors, such as one or more strain gauges, attached to the support member, e.g. to a surface of the support member or embedded in the support member.

The present inventor has seen indications that attaching the strain measurement arrangement, such as a strain gauge, directly to a wall, such as the housing wall, by means of e.g. an adhesive may be rather time consuming and inconvenient during manufacturing of the device. However utilizing a measurement arrangement that already has been attached to a support member such as a plastic, metal plate, or alternatively a plate of another suitable material, and attaching this support member to the housing arrangement by means of a suitable fastening system may help to provide an improved, such as a faster manufacturing of the device. In further embodiments of the present disclosure, the support member may be a circuit board such as a printed circuit board.

Also or alternatively, this may e.g. help to provide a more long lasting or reliable strain measuring solution.

In aspects of the present invention, the strain measurement arrangement may thus be configured to detect strain changes in said support member occurring due to the reaction forces transferred from at least a part of said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement.

The support member may in aspects of the present disclosure be attached to the housing arrangement by means of one or more fastening arrangements. These fastening arrangements may in further aspects of the present disclosure comprise one or more of an adhesive, a melted connection and/or a mechanical fastening arrangement.

The mechanical fastening arrangement may e.g. comprise one or more screws one or more snap connections and/or one or more pop rivets or the like.

This may e.g. help to provide a solution where a sufficient strain transfer is provided by the fastening arrangement(s) and which may be fast and/or cost efficient to manufacture. Using a screw solution, clips solution, pop rivet solution or the like may e.g. also help to ease a possible replacement of the strain measurement arrangement later on.

In aspects of the present invention, said support member may be attached to the housing arrangement at a plurality of discrete fixation positions by means of a plurality of fastening arrangements. This may e.g. help to provide a solution that may be advantageous from a manufacturing point of view, such as helping to increase manufacturing speed, and/or help to provide a sufficient strain transfer between the housing arrangement and the support member to enable a sufficient detection of the strain changes.

Hence, in aspects of the present disclosure, the strain changes in the housing arrangement occurring due to the reaction forces may in aspects of the present disclosure be configured to be transferred from the housing arrangement, such as from a wall of the housing arrangement, and to the support member through the one or more fastening arrangements.

In aspects of the present invention, the strain measurement arrangement may e.g. be connected to the control arrangement by means of a plug and socket connection.

In aspects of the present invention, said device may be configured, based on said strain measurement information, to provide one or more of:.

In aspects of the present disclosure, a device as previously described may be connected to the fixed window frame and a sash/swinging sash respectively, in order to control the opening and closing of the window. The sash preferably comprises a frame part and a window pane (preferably comprising a plurality of glass panes spaced apart and arranged in parallel relative to each other) arranged in the frame, the window is preferably a roof window or a top hinged window which will push on the chain due to gravity when installed and opened.

It is understood that the building aperture covering system may provide e.g. one or more of the advantages/features as described in one or more aspects relating to the device.

The device may in advantageous aspects of the invention be integrated in a frame of said building aperture covering system. For example, the device may e.g. in aspects of the invention be installed/enclosed in a fixed frame of the window.

In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, said building aperture covering system may be configured, based on said strain measurement information, to provide one or more of:.

An embodiment not forming part of the invention relates to a method for detecting entrapment of a foreign object at a window such as a roof window, wherein said roof window comprises a window sash configured to be opened and closed by means of a device comprising a drive arrangement enclosed in a housing arrangement,.

It is understood that the method may provide e.g. one or more of the advantages/features as described in one or more aspects relating to e.g. the device.

In preferred aspects of the method, said strain measurement arrangement may comprise one or more strain gauges detecting strain changes on said housing arrangement.

In preferred aspects of the method, the housing arrangement may be made from a plastic material, preferably a fibre reinforced plastic material. This material may e.g. be a material such as a glass fibre reinforced plastic material, e.g. glass fibre reinforced PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), e.g. PBT <NUM>%GF, it may be made from a PPS material (Polyphenylene Sulfide) comprising a glass fibre filler such as a <NUM>% glass fibre filler (PPS <NUM>%GF) and/or the like.

In advantageous aspects of the method, said sprocket may be connected to the housing arrangement by means of the connection system, and said strain measurement arrangement may preferably detect strain changes acting on said housing arrangement due to forces transferred from said sprocket to the housing arrangement.

In advantageous aspects of the method, a weight change, such as a weight reduction, of said building aperture covering is registered based on said strain measurement information from the strain measurement arrangement, and wherein the motor is controlled based thereon.

In preferred aspects of the method, a processing of the measurement data from the strain measurement arrangement comprise a differentiation calculation such as a <MAT> calculation, e.g. by a <MAT> calculation.

This information may e.g. in aspects of the method, be compared to a <MAT> threshold, such as a <MAT> threshold, and the motor may be controlled based thereon.

In advantageous aspects of the method, the driving direction of the motor may be stopped and/or reversed if a strain change exceeds said threshold.

In advantageous aspects of the method, one or more initial closing attempts for closing of said building aperture covering may be provided,.

In one or more aspects of the method, said measurement arrangement may be attached to a support member such as a plate or sheet material, and wherein said support member is attached to said housing arrangement, such as attached to a housing wall of said housing arrangement. In further aspects, the strain measurement arrangement may detects strain changes in said support member occurring due to reaction forces transferred from at least a part of said drive arrangement to the housing arrangement. It is generally understood that in other aspects of the present invention, the measurement arrangement, such as one or more strain gauges, may be attached directly to a wall of the housing arrangement by means of for example an adhesive.

In one or more aspects of said method, said strain measurement information may additionally be utilized to provide one or more of:.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a device <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention for controlling a building aperture covering such as a door or a window such as a roof window.

The device comprises a housing arrangement <NUM> enclosing a drive arrangement <NUM>. The drive arrangement <NUM> comprises a sprocket <NUM> a reduction gear arrangement <NUM> and a motor <NUM>.

The motor drives the sprocket <NUM> by means of the reduction gear <NUM>, and the sprocket <NUM> is arranged to operate/adjust a push pull chain <NUM> of the device <NUM> so that when the sprocket <NUM> is rotated by means of the motor <NUM>, the chain <NUM> is either retracted or pushed forward dependent of the rotation direction of the motor <NUM> and/or the reduction gear arrangement <NUM>.

Moreover, the device <NUM> comprises a strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, preferably comprising one or more strain gauges, but it may also be other types of sensor arrangements such as e.g. optical sensor solutions.

Also, an inductive sensor may be utilized for strain measurement in embodiments of the invention by e.g. measuring movement of a metal connected to the housing to measure strain changes causing metal movement.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement <NUM> and occurring due to forces transferred from the drive arrangement <NUM> to the housing arrangement <NUM>.

A control system/arrangement <NUM> is arranged in the housing <NUM> and is configured to control the drive arrangement <NUM>.

The control arrangement <NUM> comprises a computer processor which is configured to transmit control signals <NUM> to the motor <NUM> in response to input signals <NUM> received from e.g. the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>. These input signals <NUM> comprises strain measurement information <NUM> transmitted to the control arrangement <NUM>, this is described in more details later on according to various embodiments of the invention.

The control arrangement <NUM> may thus in embodiments of the invention comprise a computer processor, a data storage comprising computer program code according to which the computer processor operates and e.g. other information such as look up tables, it may comprise timer functionalities and/or the like. This may e.g. be referred to as control circuitry.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may e.g. in embodiments of the present disclosure be connected by a wire to the control arrangement <NUM>, e.g. by means of a plug and socket connection where the plug may be engaged with and released from the socket. This wire is configured to transfer the strain measurement information <NUM> to the control arrangement <NUM>.

The control arrangement <NUM> may moreover, in embodiments of the invention, comprise an antenna or the like configured to receive control signals from a wireless remote control (not illustrated) comprising buttons (either physical buttons or buttons in a touch panel) to allow a user to open and close the building aperture covering by operating the remote control. The remote control may also comprise a status display for displaying status (e.g. opened/closed) of the building aperture covering. Also or alternatively, the control arrangement <NUM> may in embodiments of the invention be connected by a wired connection to a control panel (not illustrated) comprising buttons (either physical buttons or buttons in a touch panel) to allow a user to operate the building aperture covering.

In various embodiments of the invention, the control arrangement <NUM> may be arranged external to the housing, and may e.g. be connected to motor, strain measurement arrangement and e.g. other sensors by means of one or more wires such as electrical or optical wires.

In further embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the control arrangement may comprise a first controller outside the housing and comprising circuitry for e.g. receiving and transmitting signals from a remote control, and preferably also processing/interpreting received control commands from a remote control. This first control arrangement may e.g. transmit (wired or wirelessly) control commands based thereon to a motor/drive arrangement controller, e.g. arranged in the housing, (for example as the control arrangement illustrated in <FIG>) and configured to control the drive arrangement. The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> and/or other sensors as e.g. described later on in this document may be connected to either the first or second control arrangement.

One or more parts of the drive arrangement <NUM> is/are connected to the housing arrangement <NUM> by means of a connection system <NUM> (not illustrated in <FIG>).

Thus, when a load change on the chain <NUM> (e.g. a weight increase and/or decrease of the building aperture covering) occur, this change is transferred from the chain to the drive arrangement <NUM>, and thus to the housing arrangement <NUM> through the connection system. The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> registers/detects the load change as a load change on the chain <NUM> will provide/result in a strain change at the housing.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> comprises one or more strain gauges, e.g. in embodiments of the invention arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. When the strain on the housing arrangement <NUM> changes, this causes the strain gauge(s) to be deformed and thus causes the electrical resistance to change. This information is registered by the control arrangement <NUM> by the signal <NUM>, and when a strain measurement exceed one or more thresholds (which may e.g. be determined by the control arrangement <NUM>), the control arrangement <NUM> is configured to transmit control signals <NUM> to control the motor <NUM>.

The control arrangement <NUM> and motor <NUM> may in embodiments of the invention be supplied with electrical power from a power supply PS comprising a battery, e.g. arranged in or together with the housing <NUM> as illustrated, it may be supplied with power from a mains connection (not illustrated) and/or from a solar power cell arrangement (not illustrated). In embodiments of the invention, the power supply may comprise a transformer arrangement to transform supply voltage to one or more desired voltage levels.

The push pull chain <NUM> is configured to interlock the chain links so that the chain may only roll or fold-up in one direction. When the chain is unfolded, the chain links latch together to form a rigid, linear chain that may push on the building aperture covering connected to the chain <NUM> at e.g. a connection point 3a. Accordingly, when the chain <NUM> is retracted into a housing, preferably the housing <NUM>, this is provided by rotating the motor and thus the reduction gear in a first direction. When changing the rotation direction, the chain <NUM> and the connection part 3a is pushed forward through an opening <NUM> in the housing, and the chain links thereby interlocks so that the chain can push on the building aperture covering such as a window sash of fixed window frame (not illustrated in <FIG>) dependent on how the device <NUM> is installed.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least the part of the housing arrangement <NUM>, such as one or preferably the walls of the housing arrangement at which the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is configured to detect strain changes, and/or the part of the housing arrangement <NUM> to which the drive arrangement <NUM> is connected by the connection system <NUM>, is made from a polymer material such as a plastic material, and/or a carbon and/or glass fibre reinforced material.

the walls enclosing the drive arrangement <NUM> may be made from a plastic material, preferably a fibre reinforced plastic material such as a glass fibre reinforced PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) material, and/or a Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) material, and the strain measurement arrangement may be configured to detect a strain change in one of these walls made from this material.

In further embodiments, the walls enclosing the drive arrangement <NUM> may be made from a metal such as aluminium or steel or another suitable alloy, and the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may be configured to detect a strain change in one of these walls made from this material.

In embodiments of the invention, the housing arrangement <NUM> may be made from a polymer material such as a plastic material, a carbon fibre reinforced and/or glass fibre reinforced material.

It is to be understood that the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> in embodiments of the invention may comprise one strain gauge. In other embodiments of the invention, it may comprise a plurality of strain gauges arranged at different locations and configured to detect strain changes in one or more of the housing walls. The strain gauges may thus be arranged at different housing walls, at different locations at the same housing wall, at an internal housing wall surface <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and/or or at an external housing wall surface.

The housing <NUM> may preferably comprise a rear wall W2c, a front wall W2b and bottom wall W2a, (a top wall is not illustrated but is preferably present) and the strain measurement arrangement may comprise one or more sensors such as strain gauges attached to one or more of such wall surfaces <NUM> and configured to determine strain changes on the respective wall. The strain measurement arrangement may preferably be arranged at a substantially plane surface of the housing wall.

<FIG> illustrates further embodiments of the device <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention.

The housing <NUM> may as illustrated in <FIG>, in embodiments of the invention be equipped with a chain storage <NUM> arranged to guide and store the chain upon retraction of the chain <NUM> into the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may in embodiments of the invention comprise a guiding arrangement for guiding the chain during retraction and/or when pushing the chain <NUM> forward, and the chain <NUM> is preferably configured to be stored at a substantially isolated part of the housing with one or more separation walls (not illustrated in <FIG>) arranged to provide that dirt, oil and/or the like is not transferred to the other parts of the housing <NUM> comprising e.g. the drive arrangement <NUM>, measuring arrangement <NUM>, the control arrangement <NUM> and/or the like.

<FIG> moreover illustrates a more detailed embodiment of the reduction gear <NUM> where the reduction gear <NUM> comprises a suitable arrangement of toothed wheels arranged to reduce the rotational speed of the motor's <NUM> shaft and enabling that the drive arrangement <NUM> is able to provide a push force F2 and/or pull force F1 to the chain between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> such as between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> may in preferred embodiments of the invention e.g. be an electric motor such as a DC motor such as a <NUM> DC motor or a <NUM> V DC motor.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of the invention where a part of the drive arrangement <NUM> is connected to the housing arrangement <NUM> by means of a connection system <NUM>. In this embodiment, the sprocket <NUM> is connected to the housing arrangement <NUM> as the sprocket <NUM> comprises a shaft part 12a rotatable arranged in receiving parts 12b such as an annular ring fixed to or integrated in the interior housing wall of the housing arrangement <NUM>. This receiving part 12b may e.g. be attached to the housing by welding or be provided during a moulding process of the housing arrangement. The connection system <NUM> supports the sprocket <NUM> so that when a force F3 acts on the chain <NUM>, e.g. caused by the weight of the building aperture covering, the sprocket <NUM> takes up a part of this force and transfer it to the housing arrangement <NUM> through the connection system <NUM> as a reaction force.

The strain in the housing arrangement <NUM> thus change when the force acting on the chain <NUM> changes, and this is detected by the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, and the strain measurement information <NUM> will thus reflect such strain changes.

It is generally understood that the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may comprise a single sensor, such as a strain gauge, but it may also, in other embodiments comprise a plurality of sensors such as strain gauges (not illustrated in <FIG>) arranged at different locations of the housing. e.g. at different housing walls in order to obtain strain measurement reflecting load changes acting on the housing as e.g. described above and/or below.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the housing is provided by two parts 2a, 2b which, when connected e.g. by a mechanical assembling system 15a-15c. An example of a result of such mechanical assembling is illustrated in <FIG>. The mechanical assembling system 15a-15c may comprise one or more screws, clips systems, pop rivets and/or the like 15a, 15c, and e.g. a connecting part 15b for receiving this/these.

In other embodiments of the invention, the housing may be connected/assembled by a welding or gluing assembling (not illustrated) to provide provides the housing arrangement <NUM> enclosing the drive arrangement <NUM>, control arrangement <NUM>, a chain storage and/or the like.

The two housing parts 2a, 2b may in embodiments of the invention, as e.g. illustrated, each comprises a part 12b of the connection system <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates schematically embodiments of the invention relating to sensor input utilized for controlling the drive arrangement <NUM>.

The control arrangement <NUM> may receive input from the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> as e.g. described above or below. Moreover, the control arrangement <NUM> may receive information from a position sensor arrangement <NUM> configured to determine the position of the building aperture covering such as a door or a window. This may e.g. be provided by a tacho sensor or the like arranged to detect/count rotations provided by the motor, it may comprise pressure sensitive sensors arranged to detect when the building aperture covering is closed, it may comprise a sensor arranged to detect the chain to determine how much and/or if the window is opened or not sufficiently closed and/or the like. Such a position sensor may e.g. be provided by means of an optical sensor, a hall sensor, mechanically actuated sensor and/or the like.

The sensor arrangement <NUM> may e.g. provide information enabling the control arrangement <NUM> to determine if the building aperture covering is in an open position or a closed position. It may moreover, in further embodiments of the invention be able to provide information of where the building aperture covering is positioned between a fully opened and a fully closed position.

Moreover, the control arrangement <NUM> may in further embodiments of the invention receive information from a sensor arrangement <NUM> configured to detect if the building aperture covering is sufficiently closed. This may e.g. be provided by a current consumption measuring circuitry arranged to measure the current supplied to the motor <NUM>, and when the motor current reaches a certain, preferably predefined, level/amount, this reflects that the motor pulls the chain and thus the building aperture covering with a desired force to provide that the building aperture covering is sufficiently closed. This information may however, also be provided by the strain measurement sensor in embodiments of the invention.

In further embodiments of the invention, the control arrangement <NUM> may also be configured to utilize information regarding whether the motor <NUM> is active, either by detecting motor current by sensor arrangement <NUM>, by registering a state of a software parameter reflecting the activity of the motor and/or the like. For example, a software parameter may reflect information regarding whether the motor /and thus drive arrangement) is active/controlled to open the building aperture covering, if the motor is active/controlled so as to close the building aperture covering, or is inactive. This information may e.g. be utilized during detection regarding whether a foreign object is present between sash and fixed frame of the building aperture covering.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart according to embodiments of the invention, relating to detection whether a foreign object is present.

In test <NUM> (BAC Clos?), the control arrangement <NUM> tests whether the building aperture covering, such as a window, e.g. a roof window, is in a closed position. This may e.g. be provided by means of a position sensor arrangement <NUM> as described above in relation to <FIG>.

If the building aperture covering is detected to be closed in test <NUM>, there may be no need for further actions regarding detecting whether a foreign object is present.

If however the building aperture covering is detected to be open, the control arrangement <NUM> tests whether the motor motor/drive arrangement is detected to be in an operational mode/active to e.g. close the building aperture covering, or alternatively to open the building aperture covering. This is tested in Test T62 (Mot active?).

If the drive arrangement/motor is determined not to be active, the building aperture covering may merely be in a desired, open state, and thus, no further action regarding detection of foreign objects may be desired.

If however, the motor/drive arrangement is determined to be active, the control arrangement <NUM> may process the strain measurement information <NUM> from the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, to determine if the strain on the housing exceeds one or more thresholds. If the threshold(s) is/are exceeded, this may reflect that a foreign object is present between sash and fixed frame of the building aperture covering, and thus, the control arrangement <NUM> may stop the motor (step S61 Stop Mot) to avoid damaging the foreign objects, such as a body part of a human or animal, and/or to avoid overloading the drive arrangement and/or other part of the housing.

This may e.g. be the case if the control arrangement certainly detects a sudden reduced strain in the housing, as this may reflect that a foreign object is present between a sash part or the like and a frame part of building part (see e.g. <FIG>), thus lifting/providing a lifting force to lift/move the sash part, and e.g. reducing the weight of acting on the chain <NUM> or even resulting in a pulling force on the chain.

In further embodiments of the invention, (not illustrated in <FIG>) if.

this may initiate an automatic closing of the building aperture covering as a large pushing force may thus provide a strain increase in the housing <NUM> while the window is not closed or operated to be closed. In such a case, the control arrangement may be configured to close the window.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart according to further embodiments of the invention, relating to detection whether a foreign object is present.

Tests T71-T73 may substantially correspond to tests T61-T63 as described in relation to <FIG>. However, test T72 relates to testing whether the motor is set to or is in a mode to close the building aperture covering.

If the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> detects that the strain on the housing at one or more positions of the housing arrangement <NUM> exceeds a threshold, this may trigger the control arrangement <NUM> to stop and reverse the motor rotation direction (Step S71 - Reverse Mot) to open the building aperture covering again, so that the foreign object can rapidly be removed to avoid that it is clamped between a sash part or the like and a building part or a fixed frame part of the building aperture covering.

Then the control arrangement <NUM> determines whether the building aperture covering has been sufficiently opened again (test T71 - BAC opened) and is ready for a new try to close the building aperture covering. This may be determined by means of e.g. a position sensor arrangement <NUM> as described in relation to <FIG> and/or it may be provided by an acknowledgement signal generated by a human operator by means of a remote control, it may be provided by a timer functionality set in the control arrangement <NUM> and/or the like).

Then, in step S72 (Mot Clos), the control arrangement <NUM> provides a new attempt to close the building aperture covering, and test T76 tests if the window is then closed at this second closing attempt.

During this, the control arrangement <NUM> may in Test T75 process information such as information from a sensor arrangement <NUM> as described in relation to <FIG>, e.g. current consumption information of the motor, to determine if the force provided in the chain to close the building aperture covering is sufficient, and this may e.g. be tested against one or more thresholds. The second closing attempt may e.g. be provided with an allowable larger force, and thus larger current consumption and/or e.g. larger strains on the housing (<NUM>), than allowed during the previous attempt.

Measurement information from the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may in embodiments of the invention thus also or alternatively be utilized during the test T75.

If a position sensor arrangement now determines (Test T76) that the building aperture covering is closed correctly, this may end the closing operation as described in relation to <FIG>.

If, however, the second closing attempt to close the building aperture covering does not succeed (Test T75 and/or T76), this may trigger an alarm signal (Step S72 - Al). This may e.g. comprise a sound signal triggered by the control arrangement <NUM> and detectable by human hearing, (e.g. within <NUM> to <NUM>), it may comprise a wireless alarm signal transmitted to a remote control or the like to be displayed in a display to warn a human operator/user that the window cannot be closed, possibly because of a foreign object obstructing a sufficient closing of the window, and/or the like.

It is generally understood that the steps S71 and test T74, and preferably also the step S72 and Test T75 in further embodiments of the invention may be configured to repeated a number of times such as e.g. two, three four or even more times, and these closing attempts may be considered as initial closing attempts which may be configured to be interrupted by the control arrangement <NUM> if the strain threshold is exceeded, a final closing attempt may however also be utilized where some sensor information, such as the strain measurement on the housing, current consumption information and/or the like is neglected/ left out of account, or where strain threshold and/or current consumption threshold are set very high, to assure that the building aperture covering is closed after assuring that e.g. foreign object has been/may have been removed, for e.g. safety purposes.

<FIG> illustrates a cross sectional view, seen in perspective, of a part of a device <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention for controlling a building aperture covering such as a door or a window such as a roof window. A part of the chain storage <NUM> is also visible.

The device <NUM> comprises a housing arrangement <NUM> enclosing a drive arrangement <NUM>. The drive arrangement <NUM> comprises a sprocket <NUM> a reduction gear arrangement <NUM> and a motor <NUM>.

As can be seen, the sprocket <NUM> is connected to the housing <NUM> through a connection system <NUM>. The sprocket <NUM> is thus rotatable arranged in sprocket receiving/holding parts 12b such as an annular ring fixed to/integrated in the interior housing wall, see also <FIG>.

As can be seen, the device <NUM> preferably comprises one or more separation walls <NUM> in the housing <NUM> for separating the chain <NUM> from the drive arrangement <NUM> and the like, so as to avoid that fat, dirt and the like sticking to the chain <NUM> over time enters the drive arrangement.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is preferably attached to the housing wall comprising a part of the connection system 12b.

<FIG> moreover illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the drive arrangement <NUM> is connected to the housing by means of a plurality of connections <NUM> providing the connection system. For example, different parts of the drive arrangement <NUM>, such as different toothed wheels of the reduction gear arrangement <NUM>, such as the motor <NUM> and/or the like, may be connected to the housing to e.g. keep these parts of the drive arrangement <NUM> fixed sufficiently in the housing to be able to take up e.g. torque forces from the motor provided when operating the chain.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may in embodiment also be able to detect such torque forces acting on the housing due increased or decreased torque caused by increased or decreased load on the chain.

However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> may at least be arranged to detect strain changes in the housing <NUM> due to changes in forces provided to the chain, and transferred to the housing via the sprocket <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the housing <NUM> provides a connection system <NUM> including a support structure around which the sprocket <NUM> is arranged to rotate, e.g. on a ball bearing or the like (not visible in <FIG>). The chain <NUM> is not illustrated to increase the readability of the drawing.

The connection system <NUM> comprises support parts 12a, 12b extending from opposite interior housing walls and which are connected to each other, e.g. where one of the parts 12b fits into an opening or slit in the other 12a, when two housing walls 2a, 2b are connected. The connection system may thus provide a support around which the sprocket rotates when the motor is activated and drives the reduction gear (not illustrated in <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates schematically an embodiment of the invention wherein the device <NUM> is arranged pivotally on a hinge part <NUM>. The hinge part <NUM> is connected to a frame <NUM> of the building aperture covering <NUM>, which in this case is a window.

The sash part <NUM> of the window, e.g. enclosing one or more glass panes (not illustrated) is connected to the chain <NUM>, and when the chain <NUM> is controlled by the device <NUM> to open the sash part <NUM>, or close the sash part, the housing <NUM> will be able to pivot correspondingly around axis AX1. This may e.g. be advantageous where the building aperture covering is a top hung window, a skylight/roof window or the like.

The chain may also in other embodiments (not illustrated) be configured to provide a push force while describing a arch shape to adapt to the opening direction of the window or door due to the hinge system.

<FIG> Illustrates a graph displaying the detection of the strain in the housing wall in response to a load change on the chain <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention.

The dashed line <NUM> illustrates the strain measurement information <NUM> obtained from the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement <NUM>. In the present example, the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> comprises a strain gauge, and the Y axis on the graph represents a voltage representing the strain measurement information <NUM> from the strain gauge, where a voltage change in the information <NUM> (see <FIG>) is indicative of the strain change in the housing <NUM>.

The solid line <NUM> indicates a load acting on the chain <NUM>.

From time= t0-t1, the load (Solid line) on the chain is constant, and thus, also the strain in the housing is constant, this may e.g. indicate that the building aperture blinding, such as a window, is in an opened position, and pushes on the chain due to gravity and the weight of the building aperture blinding. Between t1 and t2, a pulling force is gradually provided to the building aperture blinding in a direction away from the housing <NUM>, and is removed again at t2.

This force acts on the drive arrangement <NUM>, and is thus transferred to the housing <NUM>. This load change is thus registered by the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> as a sudden decrease in strains on the housing, and thus a change in the resistance of the strain gauge, and the control arrangement is thus able to act accordingly to e.g. stop the motor.

If the motor e.g. continues to try to close the window, this may provide that the force acting on the chain will change direction from a force provided due to the weight of the building aperture covering to a pulling force provided by the motor <NUM>. This may change the strain direction detected by the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, and may thus also be detected and acted upon by the control arrangement.

<FIG> illustrates another graph displaying the detection of the strain in the housing wall in response to a load change on the chain <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention.

The dashed line <NUM> illustrates the strain measurement information <NUM> obtained from the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement <NUM>. In the present example, the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> comprises a strain gauge, and the Y axis on the graph represents a voltage representing the strain measurement information <NUM>.

The solid line <NUM> illustrates a load acting on the chain <NUM>.

From time= t0-t1, the load (Solid line) on the chain is constant, and thus, also the strain in the housing is constant. Between t1 and t2, a pushing force is gradually provided and removed again to the chain <NUM>, in a direction towards the housing <NUM>. This force acts on the drive arrangement <NUM>, and is thus transferred to the housing <NUM>. This load change is registered by the strain measuring arrangement <NUM> as a sudden increase in strains on the housing, and thus a change in the resistance of the strain gauge, and the control arrangement is thus able to act accordingly to e.g. start the motor to close the building aperture covering or the like.

In <FIG>, the dotted line reflects a predetermined threshold for the housing strain measurement <NUM>, and when the threshold is exceeded, the control arrangement may be set to act to e.g. start and/or stop the motor of the drive arrangement.

Generally, it is to be understood that the strain change in the housing may be determined so that when a strain change is detected within a predefined time span.

Accordingly the control arrangement <NUM> may in preferred embodiments of the invention be configured to act to transmit control signals <NUM> to control the motor <NUM> based on the strain measurement information <NUM> when a strain measurement changes a certain amount within a predefine time period such as a time period of e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> seconds, such as within <NUM> - <NUM> seconds, e.g. within <NUM> - <NUM> seconds.

In preferred aspects of the invention, the processing of the measurement data from the strain measurement arrangement may comprise a <MAT> calculation such as a <MAT> calculation, determined by e.g. the control arrangement <NUM>.

It is generally understood that the threshold(s) may be any suitable threshold.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the threshold may be set based on a derivative/differentiated value of the measurement signal. Accordingly, when the housing strain changes (measured by measurement arrangement <NUM>) a certain amount per time ( <MAT>), and when this amount exceeds a predefined threshold, the motor may be stopped/started and/or reversed dependent on the application and the input signal.

In other embodiments of the invention, the threshold(s) may e.g. be set directly based on the measured strain value, and the one or more thresholds may e.g. be set and e.g. calibrated accordingly.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a building aperture covering system <NUM>, in this embodiment comprising a window roof/skylight window <NUM> comprising a device <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention. The roof window <NUM> is installed in a roof <NUM> and provides a building aperture covering. The roof window comprises a window sash part <NUM> for holding a window glass, and a fixed frame part <NUM> to which the window is connected by a hinge connection. The connection between the window sash and the frame arrangement may provide a top hinged window as illustrated, it may provide a centre hinged connection (not illustrated) and/or the like.

The device <NUM> is fixed to the frame in <FIG>, but may alternatively be fixed to the sash frame <NUM>, and the push/pull chain connects the sash frame <NUM> and the fixed frame <NUM>. Thus, when the control arrangement <NUM> (not illustrated in <FIG>) controls the motor in the device housing <NUM>, the window may be opened or closed.

The window frame <NUM> may preferably be arranged in the roof <NUM> having an angle compared to horizontal which is between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, such <NUM>° and <NUM>° such as between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

The sash <NUM> provides a weight on the housing <NUM> due to gravity, when the window is opened, and when an external force acts on the sash <NUM>, this causes a weight change and thus a force change which is transferred to the housing <NUM>, and which may be detected by the strain measurement arrangement as e.g. described above and/or below.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of the invention where a force F3 is provided on the window sash by a foreign object <NUM>. This force provides a weight reduction of the window sash <NUM>, and/or may even result in a pulling force in the chain before the window is closed dependent on if the motor tries to close the window and the resulting force acting on the chain provides a pulling force in the chain <NUM> due to the object <NUM> hindering a closing of the window.

In the present example, the object <NUM> supports on the roof or frame <NUM>, and thus transfer a part of the weight of the sash <NUM> to the frame <NUM> directly.

This causes a reaction force change and thus a strain change in the housing <NUM> of the device <NUM> which the strain measurement arrangement may detect.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement <NUM>. The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> comprises one or more strain gauges attached to a plate or flexible sheet material <NUM> made from e.g. a plastic material, a metal or the like. This plate or sheet material <NUM> is attached to the housing wall <NUM>, e.g. by an adhesive, or alternatively by mechanical fastening means such as one or more screws, an integrated clips system of the housing and/or the like. The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> thus detects the strain changes in the housing as strain changes in the plate or flexible sheet material <NUM>. This solution may e.g. help to provide a more long lasting strain measuring solution.

<FIG> illustrates various embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, such as a strain gauge, is attached to a support member <NUM>, in the present disclosure a plate-shaped member, and the support member <NUM> is attached to a suitable wall W2c of the housing arrangement <NUM>.

The support member <NUM> may be a plate or sheet material. For example, it may be a metal plate, a plastic plate, a fibre reinforced plastic material plate, a plate made from a composite material such as a glass fibre material or carbon fibre material and/or the like. Also, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the support member <NUM> may be a circuit board such as a printed circuit board (PCB). In this embodiment, the circuit board may in embodiments comprise electronic components and/or electrically conductive tracks connected to the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> used for processing and/or transferring input signals <NUM> comprising strain measurement information <NUM> transmitted to the control arrangement <NUM> as e.g. described above, see e.g. <FIG> and/or <NUM> and the description thereto.

The support member <NUM> may also in embodiments of the present disclosure have another constitution and/or shape than plate-shaped.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is attached to a surface <NUM> of the support member <NUM> by means of e.g. an adhesive <NUM> such as a glue placed between the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the support member <NUM>.

The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is thus configured to detect strain changes in the support member <NUM> which occurs due to the reaction forces transferred from at least a part of the drive arrangement <NUM>, <NUM> (not illustrated in <FIG>, see e.g. description above and/or below) to the wall W2c of the housing arrangement <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the support member <NUM> is attached to the housing arrangement <NUM> wall W2c by means of a fastening arrangement <NUM>. This fastening arrangement <NUM> may e.g. comprise an adhesive, one or more melted fastening connections and/or one or more mechanical fastening arrangements as for example illustrated in the various embodiments of the present disclosure in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the support member <NUM> is attached to the housing arrangement <NUM> wall W2c at a plurality of discrete fixation positions by means of a plurality fastening arrangements <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the discrete fastening arrangements <NUM> comprises protrusions arranged between the support member <NUM> and the housing wall providing the wall surface <NUM>. These protrusions may have been attached to or provided during the manufacturing of the housing arrangement <NUM>. Hence, the support member <NUM> may be attached to the housing wall by means of the fastening arrangements <NUM>, such as by means of a melted connection (such as heat to melt or soften the protrusions and attaching the support member <NUM> to the protrusions before they cool down and cure again). Alternatively or additionally, an adhesive may be used.

In <FIG>, the fastening arrangement <NUM> comprises discretely arranged screws that fixes the support member <NUM> to the housing arrangement <NUM> wall W2c. Alternatively, pop rivets or another mechanical solution may be used in other embodiments.

In <FIG>, the fastening arrangements <NUM> comprises protrusions of different sizes extending from the support member <NUM> and the wall W2c of the housing arrangement <NUM> respectively. At least one of the protrusions is hollow and/or has an open structure, and has an opening or slit configured to receive the other protrusion. In further embodiments, the parts of the protrusions may be supplied by an adhesive such as a glue. So as to bond the protrusions together. The protrusions may hence be arranged to provide an at least temporary fixation solution until this adhesive cures.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the fastening arrangement(s) <NUM> may comprise a clips/snap connection system where a part on the wall W2c is configured to engage with another part fixed to the support member <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the fastening arrangements <NUM> comprises legs or protrusions arranged to extend into a receiving opening/recessed portion in the wall W2c. these legs or protrusions transfers strain changes in the wall W2c caused by at least a part of the drive arrangement <NUM>, <NUM> (not illustrated in <FIG>, see e.g. description above and/or below) to the support member <NUM>. The legs or protrusions may e.g. as illustrated be L-shaped to enable a sufficient fixation of the support member <NUM> to the wall. The legs or protrusions may e.g. be fixed by a resiliency in the support member that provides a holding or weding force so that the legs or protrusions are maintained engaged with the receiving opening/recessed portion in the wall W2c.

When strain changes occur in the housing arrangement <NUM> wall W2c in the embodiments of <FIG> due to reaction forces transferred from at a part of the drive arrangement (see e.g. previous description), these strain changes are transferred to the support member <NUM> through the fastening arrangement(s) <NUM>. This induces strain changes in the support member <NUM> which are detected by the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>.

It is understood that at least two, (see e.g. <FIG>), at least three (see e.g. <FIG>), at least four such as at least six discrete fastening arrangements <NUM> may be provided in embodiments of the present disclosure in order to assure a sufficient transfer of strain change from the housing wall W2c to the support member <NUM>. For example, between <NUM> and <NUM> (both end points included), such as between <NUM> and <NUM>, such as between <NUM> and <NUM> discrete fastening arrangements <NUM> may be used for fastening the support member <NUM> to the housing arrangement such as a housing wall in embodiments of the present disclosure.

It is understood that one or more types of fastening arrangements <NUM> as described in relation to e.g. <FIG> may be combined in further embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, one or more of the fastening arrangements <NUM> described in <FIG> may be combined with an adhesive such as a glue, e.g. a two-component glue, and hence when the adhesive cures this may enhance strain transfer to the support member <NUM> from the fastening arrangements <NUM>. Also or alternatively, an adhesive may in embodiments of the present disclosure additionally be supplied between the support member <NUM> and the wall so that the support member <NUM> surface facing the wall surface <NUM> adhere to the surface.

In further embodiments of the present disclosure, alone a glue such as an adhesive, e.g. a two component glue may be used for attaching the support member <NUM> to the wall of the housing.

As can be seen in <FIG>, a space may be provided between the support member <NUM> and the wall surface <NUM>, but the support member <NUM> may also be arranged to abut the surface <NUM> in further embodiments of the present disclosure, or be screwed or in other ways attached, see e.g. the above description, directly to the housing wall.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a further embodiment of the invention wherein the strain measurement arrangement <NUM> is configured to detect strain changes acting on the housing arrangement <NUM>. The strain measurement arrangement <NUM> comprises one or more strain gauges attached the housing wall <NUM> surface directly by an adhesive layer <NUM> such as a glue layer.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a graph according to embodiments of the invention wherein the control arrangement may be configured to detect strain direction changes in the housing <NUM>. The Y axis indicates the voltage representing a measurement input from/provided based on the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>, comprising a strain gauge arrangement, and graph <NUM> is the measurement input.

PRF refers to "Pressure Force", i.e. where the window/sash pushes on the chain due to e.g. gravity, which is detected by the strain measurement arrangement. PUF refer to "Pull Force", i.e. where the motor actively pull the chain in order to provide a sufficient closing of the window/door.

At time ti0-ti1, the building aperture covering, in this embodiment a roof window or a top hinged window, is open and thus acts on the chain <NUM> with a constant pushing force, which in this case is in the PRF zone on the y axis. The motor is started to close the window at ti1, and the window moves towards a closed position. At ti2, the window reaches a foreign object (see e.g. <FIG>), causing a gradual weight reduction on the window as the motor continues to close the window and as the frame or a building part may take some of the weight of the window.

At ti3, the weigh transferred to the frame or building part substantially corresponds to the weight normally acting on the chain <NUM> when no foreign object is present. Thus, substantially no strain is detected in the housing <NUM> due to the window weight from the window.

From ti3 to ti4, the motor tries to pull (PUF zone in graph) the chain to close the window, and this provides a strain in a different direction which may be detected by the control arrangement <NUM>.

The change from pushing force to pulling force may e.g. (or vice versa) may e.g. be detected by a change in operational sign of the input signal, it may be detected by a predefined value such as e.g. a strain gauge resistance value and/or it may also be detected in other ways dependent on the processing of the measurement information from the strain gauge(s) and/or dependent on the measurement arrangement <NUM> output <NUM> signal type/configuration.

At ti4, the foreign object <NUM> is removed and the chain thus is exposed the window weight again and/or the motor rotation direction is reversed.

It is understood that no threshold is indicated in <FIG>, but that a threshold may be set based on any suitable value in order to provide a proper detection of foreign objects. For example at a proper location within the PUF zone in the graph, where the strain is detected or determined to be a pulling force and the housing strain changes a predefined amount per time (e.g. based on a differentiation calculation of the information <NUM> from the measurement arrangement <NUM>). This may however e.g. depend on the weight of the sash and window part acting on the chain, and such a weight is determined to be too high to be accepted as a force acting on a human body part, the threshold may e.g. be set at a location in the PRF zone of the graph, and e.g. also be based on input from a position sensor arrangement as described in relation to e.g. <FIG>. For example, if the weight is determined to be reduced, but that a pull force is not yet provided by the motor and the position sensor arrangement provides the information that the window or door is not yet closed, this may reflect that a foreign object is catched between sash and frame or building part, and the control arrangement may thus reverse the motor or stop the motor for closing the window sash or door further.

In embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the threshold may be varied dependent on the sash position, e.g. so that the threshold is lowered as the wsash gets closer to the window frame, and allows a reduced about of pulling force (in the PUF zone) before the window is closed. This may be provided in order to assure that if a person e.g. get a finger or smaller body part in between sash and fixed frame, this may faster trigger a stopping and preferably also reversing of the motor rotation direction compared to if the sash is more open.

Generally, it is noted that the measurement information <NUM>, may be utilized for controlling the motor to e.g. close the building aperture blinding.

this may cause the control arrangement <NUM> to stop the motor <NUM>, and/or reverse the motor rotation direction to allow a removal of the foreign object.

It is generally understood that the building aperture covering system <NUM> and/or the device described above in embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured to provide one or more of the following based on the strain measurement information <NUM> obtained by the strain measurement arrangement <NUM>:.

For example, an entrapment detection may e.g. be provided determine whether or not a foreign objects is trapped between e.g. a window sash and a frame when closing the window.

The strain measurement information <NUM> may e.g. be utilized as measurement information/input parameter for detecting house breaking/burglary. For example, if the value of the strain measurement information <NUM> exceeds a threshold for a certain amount of time, and a timer (e.g. controlled by the control arrangement) has elapsed (and/or other predefined criteria are complied with), a house breaking/burglary alarm may be set.

The strain measurement information <NUM> may for example in embodiments be utilized for detecting and/or controlling upon wind loads acting on a window, where the position of the window is controlled by the drive arrangement <NUM>. Hence, a wind load may provide a force that may be detected by the strain measurement information <NUM>, and the control arrangement may thus e.g. be programmed to either refuse an opening of the window, to automatically close the window or only allow the window to open a certain amount based on e.g. a threshold as previously explained, see e.g. <FIG>.

If the strain measurement information <NUM> is used as input by the control arrangement <NUM> for e.g. detecting the presence/weight of snow on a window, a predetermined force threshold may e.g. be set, and if the threshold is exceeded upon opening of the window, the control arrangement <NUM> may be configured to not allowing opening of the window, and a warning or information may be presented to a user on a screen indicating this.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) for controlling a building aperture covering such as a door or a window, wherein said device comprises:
- a housing arrangement (<NUM>, 2a, 2b)
- a drive arrangement (<NUM>) arranged in said housing arrangement (<NUM>), wherein the drive arrangement (<NUM>) comprises a sprocket (<NUM>) a reduction gear arrangement (<NUM>) and a motor (<NUM>),
- a strain measurement arrangement (<NUM>), and
- a control arrangement (<NUM>) configured to control said drive arrangement (<NUM>)
wherein said drive arrangement (<NUM>) is configured to operate a push-pull chain (<NUM>), wherein one or more parts of said drive arrangement (<NUM>) is connected to the housing arrangement (<NUM>) by means of a connection system (<NUM>, 12a, 12b),
wherein the strain measurement arrangement (<NUM>) is configured to transmit strain measurement information (<NUM>) to said control arrangement (<NUM>),
wherein said control arrangement (<NUM>) is configured to transmit control signals (<NUM>) to control the motor (<NUM>) based on the strain measurement information (<NUM>) when a strain measurement exceed one or more thresholds,
wherein said strain measurement arrangement (<NUM>) comprises one or more sensors, such as strain gauges,
characterised in that said one or more sensors are attached to one or more housing walls (2a, 2b, W2a, W2b, W2c, <NUM>) of said housing arrangement (<NUM>) in such a way that said strain measurement arrangement (<NUM>) is configured to detect strain changes in said one or more housing walls (2a, 2b, W2a, W2b, W2c, <NUM>) occurring due to reaction forces transferred from at least a part of said drive arrangement (<NUM>, <NUM>) to the housing arrangement (<NUM>).